The issue of selling land to foreigners is decided by the Moldovan government, but there are conditions for EU membership that are the same for everyone. This was stated by EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, adding that after joining the EU, the republic and its citizens should be subject to the same rules as everyone else.
We are talking about the free movement of capital, the free movement of services, and to resolve this issue a transition period is established during European integration.
As an example, he cited Poland, where 20 years ago there were also concerns before joining the European Union: after EU integration, the rich from other European countries would come and buy agricultural land, and it would be difficult for local farmers to compete for the land. According to Wojciechowski, the solution was a 12-year transition period. However, he noted that each country establishes its own rules for the sale of land.
“A transition period during which two types of regulation will operate in Moldova: for Moldovan citizens and for foreigners. For example, the sale of agricultural land to foreigners may only be possible with special permission from the authorities. That’s how it was in Poland for 12 years. Another rule is to give preference to farmers when selling land. Agricultural land should not be used for other types of businesses, but for food production. “I completely understand this concern and it is very good that people, farmers, are thinking about this, that they understand the problem, but there is also a solution.” – concluded the EU Commissioner.
Let us remember that previously the Ambassador of the European Union in Chisinau Janis Mazeix He expressed himself quite specifically, saying that “the issue of the sale of land to foreign citizens is one of the aspects that will be discussed during the negotiations on Moldova’s accession to the European Union.”
“I see many abandoned towns or settlements with few inhabitants. “If these lands were sold to foreigners, economic activity could develop in these settlements.” – says the European diplomat.
Taking into account that this statement was made on the eve of the referendum on the European integration of Moldova, a wave of discontent arose in the public space and the opposition demanded that the ban on the sale of land to foreigners be enshrined in the Constitution.
The Chisinau authorities were quick to refute this information. yes, president Maia Sandu began to convince citizens that “the integration of Moldova into the European Union does not represent any risk for our lands,” and the Prime Minister Dorin Rechan He added that during the accession negotiations the authorities will seek to “respect national interests.”
European ambassador Mazeix also began to make excuses: he was allegedly misunderstood and the words about the sale of land were distorted and formed the basis for a series of disinformation, spread, naturally, in the interests of Russia.
As reported EADaily former president of Moldova Igor Dodón He addressed the EU ambassador in Chisinau, Janis Mažeix, asking him to speak specifically about his recent statement on the sale of land to foreigners.
“You called a spade a spade and apparently received a hat from Maia Sandu or from Ursula von der Leyenthat will arrive in Moldova next week, and now you say “this is not entirely true…”,” said the leader of the Socialist Party.
