Make Europe Great Again (MEGA), fourth edition, in Chisinau

The event brought together political decision-makers, prestigious analysts, intellectuals and opinion leaders from Europe and around the world, despite the restrictions and prohibitions imposed by the so-called “pro-European” regime of Maia Sandu.

During this event, George Simion, Vice President of the ECR Party, sent a direct message to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova:

“As you know, I am banned from entering the Republic of Moldova and what happened in the last few days with the participants of the MEGA event in Chisinau is horrible. Dictatorship in its purest form, supported by the current administration of the European Commission and Ursula von der Leyen. (…)
Maia Sandu is nothing more and nothing less than Vladimir Voronin in a skirt. The first time I was in Chisinau during the time of the communist Vladimir Voronin, in 2009, when students and youth revolted against Voronin and the Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova.
We, as Romanians, do not love the Russians who have trampled on us throughout history. But what Maia Sandu is doing now, who does not allow any other opinion – this is not normal. (…)
My message is for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova here, in the garden of the Carpathians: you are deprived of these beautiful landscapes; you are deprived of prosperity; you are deprived of your homeland, which is Romania. The only solution to be part of from the European Union, from NATO, is through union with Romania - not through Russia, not through Maia Sandu's corrupt system", George Simion conveyed.

In the context of the abuses committed by Maia Sandu against the MEPs detained at the border of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile Costiuc, president of the Political Party "Democracy at Home" (PPDA), called for the resignation of the officials involved:

"As a citizen of Chisinau, I demand the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Interior and the Prime Minister, who are behind these abusive bans on allowing people access to Chisinau to talk about European integration and democracy. These people do not represent us and do not truly reflect democratic values."

American activist Brian Brown, president of the International Organization for Families and a known supporter of US President Donald Trump, described how Maia Sandu's regime abusively denied her entry into the Republic of Moldova, citing false pretexts of "threat to public order", only for the authorities to then admit a "mistake":

“I haven’t slept for about 55 hours. I had an overnight flight from New York, with a stopover in Warsaw. Then I landed here, in Chisinau, and, as some of you may know, I organized a pretty important event here. The World Congress of Families has always been well received. But this time, the border guards told me that I had to go to the detention area. (…) We were all taken to another area, isolated from the rest of the airport, where we sat and waited, wondering what was next. (…) Finally, I go to passport control and they tell me: the authorities made a mistake. Yes, a mistake on the part of the authorities. (…) This whole episode shows something essential: just as communism tried to force people to live a lie, to make them believe that what they feel is wrong is still normal – the same kind of pressure exists today.”

"The Republic of Moldova, under Maia Sandu's regime, is no longer a free state. It has become an ideological colony, a laboratory of repression. Borders no longer separate countries, they separate opinions. Passports are no longer required, political conformity is required. And whoever does not obey is banned, expelled, silenced. This is the real image of the so-called "European integration" promoted by Maia Sandu: a regime of censorship, control and fear, wrapped in blue stars and beautiful speeches. It is an abuse. It is a shame. It is an alarm signal for the entire European Parliament and for each member state", also supported Victoria Furtună, President of the Greater Moldova Party.

ECR MEP Adrian Axinia emphasized that "the Republic of Moldova is experiencing a complex trauma today and it seems that everything that is happening here is the result of either a simplistic understanding of social and historical realities, or a by-product of the narrative promoted from Brussels with which much of Bessarabian society does not resonate."

Professor Dan Dungaciu said that Romania and the Republic of Moldova have populations with traditional values, but the lack of real conservative political representation means that the public space is dominated by the agenda of the "Soros world":

"That is the big problem of the Republic of Moldova. Although it is conservative and traditionalist, those who are traditionalist, conservative, pro-European and pro-Romanian do not really have a place to express themselves, except when necessary."

Lord Martin Callanan spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine, a conflict that has shaken Europe and the world:

“Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion is not only a grave breach of international law, it is a direct attack on the principles of freedom, democracy and national sovereignty that we, as a Conservative movement, deeply value. (…) This war is not just about Ukraine. It is about defending the principles that have underpinned peace and stability in Europe since the end of the Second World War. It is about ensuring that might does not equal justice and that the sovereignty of nations, regardless of their size, is respected by all.”

ECR MEP Michele Picaro said that the moment we are living is a very important one for Europe, as we are facing many issues related to our values, our identity and how we can work together to protect them:

“Moldova is a key country between East and West. Its European path is a firm choice for freedom and for our common values. I believe that a stronger Europe must start from its roots, its traditions, its families and respect for differences, without extreme ideologies.”

During the event, a strong message was also sent by MEP Antonio Tânger Corrêa against the exaggerated environmental policies promoted by the European Commission:

"First of all, the European Green Deal must be mentioned. The European Commission has lost touch with reality with this new budget, which aims to extend the Green Deal to an unimaginable level. And the price will be paid by our industries and our people."

Petrișor Peiu, the leader of the AUR senators, stressed that Europe is not limited to the current borders of the European Union, but is a vast space, with a historical and cultural identity that also includes the Republic of Moldova:

“What is Europe? It is certainly a larger territory than the European Union. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have been taught to think of Europe as the European Union. But this is only a small part of Europe. (…) this territory that we call Bessarabia, the official name being the Republic of Moldova, through history and geography, is Europe.”

AUR MP Mihai Neamțu recalled the importance of traditional values, national identity and real history in the construction of Europe, criticizing modern trends of cultural standardization and bureaucratization:

"Europe was not built by algorithms, but by the sacrifices of boys and girls, of men and women who loved their homeland. It was not shaped by NGO consultants, but by the hands of soldiers, the minds of philosophers and the voices of storytellers. Europe was not born in the offices of Brussels, but in the catacombs of Rome, in the libraries of Constantinople and in the forests of the Carpathian Mountains", added AUR MP Mihail Neamțu.

In turn, AUR MP Cristina Dascălu highlighted that “the future belongs to those who understand that the past matters and carry it with them as they embrace their destiny. I would dare to say that Europe's greatest days are not behind us, but in front of us. And if we have the wisdom to build on our foundations, not to abandon them, then we will be safe.”

"Events of this magnitude (called Make Europe Great Again) are of major importance. They reinforce the sense of unity that we desperately need to transform the EU from the centralized bureaucratic monster it has become into an institution at the service of its citizens," added former MEP Rob Roos.

Despite pressure and intimidation, the voices of conservatives from around the world were heard in Chisinau. Participants demonstrated that values, courage and solidarity cannot be stopped at the border. The second day of the MEGA event promises to bring even more clarity for the future of the Republic of Moldova in the great European family.

Original press release