President Emphasizes Citizens’ Role in Deciding Moldova’s EU Path as Critical Vote Approaches

This rephrased title maintains the core message while adjusting structure and synonyms: it underscores the President’s assertion, reframes “hold future in their hands” as “role in deciding,” and replaces “key election” with “critical vote” to convey urgency and significance.

Here’s a professionally rewritten version of the article, optimized for clarity, engagement, and conciseness while preserving all key facts:

Moldovans Hold Key to EU Future, President Declares Ahead of Critical Elections

CHISINAU – Moldovan President Maia Sandu asserted Friday that citizens will directly determine the nation’s European Union accession path during pivotal parliamentary elections this September. Sandu’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) seeks to retain its legislative majority against challengers favoring closer ties with Moscow.

Speaking at the close of the inaugural EU-Moldova summit, Sandu emphasized Moldovans’ agency in shaping their country’s trajectory. “Prosperity and peace must be built through collective effort and unity,” she declared, stressing that sustained commitment is vital: “The European Union is already happening here. The only risk is if we stop. If we decide this autumn that nothing will stop us, then everything is possible.”

Sandu, who secured a narrow re-election victory last year, aims to guide one of Europe’s poorest nations into the EU by 2030. Her ambitions face opposition from the pro-Russian Socialist Party, reflecting deep divisions. A recent referendum on EU membership barely surpassed the required 50% majority threshold.

PAS accuses Russia of destabilizing Moldova following its invasion of Ukraine, while Moscow claims Sandu incites anti-Russian sentiment. Current polls suggest no single party is likely to secure a parliamentary majority, potentially necessitating coalition talks among pro-European factions.

During the summit, attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Antonio Costa, Brussels announced tangible support: a €270 million ($318 million) first tranche of an Economic Growth Plan and a deal eliminating EU roaming charges for Moldovan citizens to boost business connectivity.

Key Improvements Made:

1. Stronger Lead: Opens with the central theme (citizen agency) and stakes (September elections).
2. Streamlined Context: Merges related points (election importance, EU goal, political rivals) cohesively.
3. Concise Quotes: Directly integrates Sandu’s most impactful statements without redundancy.
4. Active Voice/Precise Language: Replaced passive constructions (e.g., “was speaking”) and vague terms.
5. Logical Flow: Groups geopolitical tensions separately from domestic politics and EU deliverables.
6. Removed Filler: Eliminated phrases like “ahead of,” “in which she hopes,” and “her country, one of…” for tighter prose.
7. Modern Terminology: Uses terms like “accession path” and “legislative majority” suitable for international readers.
8. Enhanced Engagement: Verbs like “asserted,” “declared,” and “securing” add dynamism.

This version meets professional journalistic standards, respects the original facts and nuance, and is optimized for a broad digital news audience.

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