EU squeaks technical win in Moldova, with massive ‘bung’ ahead of referendum

Humiliation for EU, as 74.1% of the people of one of the poorest European nations spurn its advances

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2024

In a massive blow to its pride, the Brussels elite have received a ‘no’ from the people in Moldova

On Sunday the people of the tiny, landlocked, former Soviet state of Moldova voted in an EU referendum. According to the country’s Central Electoral Commission, 50.16% of voters ticked “DA” and 49.84% voted “NO”. It became clear during Sunday night and Monday morning that voters within the country had rejected the EU and it was only thanks to hundreds of thousands of ex-pat voters that the government’s proposition scraped over the line.

Technically the Republic of Moldova endorsed EU membership by 4,999 votes, but only thanks to foreign voting. The fact remains that the people who actually live in Moldova rejected EU membership.

How the EU Commission ‘bought votes’

This humiliation for Brussels comes despite the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen having thrown a €1.8 billion ‘bung’ at the Moldovan people only 10 days before the referendum, in what must be seen as an extraordinary, last-minute attempt to influence the result of a foreign election.

Given this action is so serious, we are publishing the statement made in Moldova’s capital, Chișinău, by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on 10 October 2024, ten days before the people went to the polling booths.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Excerpts from speech of EU Commission President von der Leyen, 10 Oct 2024

“It is always a pleasure for me to come and see you here in Chișinău. I can feel Europe's pulse beating here. Moldova has shown time and again how vibrantly European it is. And you have shown time and again how personally committed you are to the accession path of your country to the European Union. There is a big milestone ahead for the people of Moldova. Citizens will soon go to the polls to decide sovereignly whether to anchor Moldova's European future in your constitution. I encourage Moldovans to use their vote and express their free choice. It is for you, the Moldovans, to decide. It is your sovereign choice what to do with your country, and no one can interfere. Of course, speaking as President of the European Commission, I believe that Moldova's place is in our European Union.

“Since you were granted candidate status in June 2022, you have made remarkable progress. You completed very important steps forward. You have initiated important justice reforms. You have intensified the fight against corruption. And you have worked hard to loosen the grip of oligarchs on your economy and society. All of this demonstrates your attachment to our common values. Values of respect for democracy and the rule of law.

“The second key dimension is your economic integration in our Union. I have come here to emphasise that your economy and our Single Market should come closer. And we can start right now, even before you join our Union.

“I know that you have an ambitious economic plan for Moldova. And the European Union will support it. We believe that we can help you double the size of your economy in a decade. That means good jobs and a better quality of life for Moldovans. Our support to you is built on three pillars. First, we invest. We will invest EUR 1.8 billion in your economy over the next three years. And we will focus these investments on sectors that will generate economic growth and public services. There is already a good pipeline of projects. We will renovate schools, for example. We will build two new hospitals, in Bălți and Cahul. We will invest in better connections in your country, and with your neighbours – like the road between Chișinău, Iași and Odesa, or bridges over the Prut river. We will also invest in your energy network, with powerlines that connect you to the European grid. And finally, we will roll out broadband internet throughout the country. Second, we will open doors to more areas of our Single Market to Moldovan companies. For example, you will have access to the Single Payments Area. This will enable secure and faster transfers of money and minimal fees, which is good for business. This will provide more financial opportunities for your SMEs.”

Just how poor is Moldova?

Moldova was granted official candidate status in June 2022, following the UK’s exit when the EU was keen to show that it was going to ‘enlarge’. In fact the GDP of the new countries is such that the economic size of the EU per person is set to shrink.

The simple fact is that it would take more than 200 Moldova’s to replace the loss of the UK economy to the EU.

Moldova’s GDP 2023 : $1,539 m
UK’s GDP 2023 : $3,340,032 m

[Source : World Bank.]

Early this century there was a considerable increase in the number of Moldovans leaving to look for work (mostly illegally) in countries such as the US, Canada, Russia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. In 2009 it was estimated that money sent home by Moldovans abroad accounted for nearly 38% of Moldova's GDP, at that time the second-highest percentage in the world.

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova has stated that 240,000 Moldovans voted in foreign polling stations. It appears from the early statements from the Central Electoral Commission that these ex-pat Moldovans swung the vote just enough for the EU and the Moldovan government to declare a victory. The legitimacy of this vote is another matter, and time will tell.

Observations

It must be said that there is deep irony in the way Europe's liberal media have all raised the question of Russian interference in this referendum vote.

It is claimed that Russian money was used to 'buy votes' and this does not seem implausible. However, not a word has been said about the EU's massive €1.8bn 'bung' to Moldova just 10 days before the vote. Promising to double the size of the economy, build schools and hospitals, improve the roads, install broadband... if this isn't buying votes then you can call us Jean-Claude.

Naturally the British people would have paid for a significant part of this EU 'bung', had the UK still been a member. Yet another Brexit benefit....

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[ Sources: Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova | EU Commission | World Bank ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Tues 22 Oct 2024

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Reader Comments 11

1. Sparky , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 06:22:

Would the vote in Moldova been fine if it was 51.89% instead of 50.46%
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No mention of above of Russian interference in the referendum. In Moldova as well as UK.
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Good Wiki page outlines Russian internee in the 2016 Brexit Referendum,"The Russia Report" published by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament in July 2020 did not specifically address the Brexit campaign, but it concluded that Russian interference in UK politics is commonplace".

2. Old Albion , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 07:27:

The simple truth is; If you are a poor nation, joining the EU is a wise idea. Simply because the EU will pour money from other (richer) countries into your economy, in an attempt to equalise economies across the EU.
Of course it doesn't work. The so called wealthy countries become resentful of having to pay billions to people they have no connection with and in doing so weaken their own economies. Then the anti EU feelings begin to grow. It's why Britain voted 'leave' It's why some in Spain, France and Ireland are now questioning their membership. Plus of course, if Moldova joins the EU, the Moldovans can use freedom of movement and escape Moldova until they wish to return, if they ever do.

3. Gazzablack , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 07:42:

1, sparkless
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Sparky the flat Earther believes any old pro EU guff.
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Claims of Russian interference isn't proof of Russian interference.
And the demographic most likely to vote for Brexit was the demographic least likely to be exposed to Russian interference.
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I think it can be reasonably argued that the vast sums being channelled to Moldova by the EU to entice Moldova to accede to the EU, is in and of itself, interference.

4. Have You Wondered , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 08:07:

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Very much 'Off Topic' - to call to Facts4EU attention.
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Democracy? Emphasis on second paragraph. Extract from European press.
.
Unveiled on October 21, the Online Safety Code — a document drawn up by the country’s Coimisiún na Meán media regulator — applies across the EU for platforms that have their bloc headquarters based in the country. That list includes X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Reddit and several others.
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Under the edict — which does not need to be voted upon by the country’s parliament — social media platforms will be legally required to restrict user-generated and commercial content considered to incite “hatred”, even in situations where such content is not illegal under Irish or EU law.
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If I've read this correctly, anyone in a member nations parliament can introduce legislation - without a vote - that applies across the bloc - even if it does not contravene any laws?
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Think of the implications? Thin end of the Wedge?
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5. Gazzablack , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 09:44:

4, HYW
..
It's no bad thing for a country or bloc to look at what other countries and blocs are doing and adopting "best practise" from what they find.
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Unfortunately the EU has chosen to look at Russia and adopt it's media control as "best practise"
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When only government run news and media is allowed then authoritarianism prospers.
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They'll get short shrift from Elon Musk though.

6. Sparky , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 13:03:

Talking of Russian interference, our new so called friends in India are meeting Putin with China and Iran.
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3 G. Russian interference in the Brexit ref is unproven because Boris (proven liar) wouldn’t allow it to be investigated. This was after Aaron Banks had met Russians and Boris had met Evgeny Lebedev who he later made a Lord. The USA looked for and found Russian interference in their elections, the UK didn’t look.

7. terence patrick hewett , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 14:04:

EU’s Reliance on Russian LNG is growing.
Russian LNG accounted for 20% of the EU's liquefied natural gas imports in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 14% for the same period last year. The EU nomenclature is riddled with Russian moles: people like Maros Sefcovic and Tusk are just the tip of the iceberg.

8. Gazzablack , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 14:46:

6, sparkless
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Watch yourself sparkless, Aaron Banks took Carol Codswallop of the Guardian to the cleaners in court due to her unfounded claims of links to Russia.
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There is no evidence of Russian collusion in Brexit.
Lebedev may have been born in Russia, but he has British citizenship and considers himself a "proud British citizen" and considers Britain his home.
(He's lived in Britain from the age of eight, and was educated in Britain)
.
Are you seriously saying that the FBI et al uncovered Russian interference in the US elections?
And yet they couldn't find any evidence of criminal behaviour by Hunter Biden, despite the evidence being in the public domain?
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But I will repeat the demographic most likely to vote for Brexit (The elderley) was the demographic least likely to be exposed any Russian interference.
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If you want an example of foreign interference in UK elections then I can draw your attention to Belgian Guy Verhofstadt actively campaigning for the Lib Dems in the 2019 General Election.

9. terence patrick hewett , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 16:02:

My larf of the week from the Daily Telegraph.
"It might seem like there’s little point trying to identify the 'sick man of Europe' when the whole Continent has come to resemble a hospital ward.

10. LuxuryBalloon , Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 19:04:

I am looking forward to the Facts4EU interview with Ilan Shor tomorrow.

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