The Elysée Treaty – the cornerstone of the sustainable cooperation 

The end of January was marked by the traditional “A Cup of Europe” event. It hosted a discussion on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Elysée, which laid the foundations for a unique cooperation in Europe, shaped the relationship between the two countries, and played a key role in building the European Union. 

The event was attended by students and professors from the State University of the Republic of Moldova, Faculty of International Relations, Political and Administrative Sciences, as well as representatives of the EU4Youth Alumni Network. 

The event was opened by Ruslan Graur, Coordinator of the EuroClub of the State University of the Republic of Moldova, FRIȘPA. “For the Republic of Moldova, it is very important that this cooperation is long-lasting, in order to overcome the crises caused by this war in Ukraine, which has affected us a lot, and we hope that both states will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in its European course. For us students, especially for the students of international relations, the future diplomats, it is very important to participate in such events, and we even feel honored to have the opportunity to communicate openly with career diplomats from EU member states”, pointed out Ruslan.

The German Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Margret Maria Uebber, recalled the founding role of the Elysée Treaty for peacekeeping and noted that “in the light of the new geopolitical situation created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we need more than ever a strong, united and resilient European Union, capable of being effective, protecting its citizens and playing its full role on the international stage”.

In his speech, the French Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Graham Paul, stressed that the Elysée Treaty and its consultation mechanisms are at the heart of Franco-German cooperation both at the political level and at the level of interaction with civil society. This treaty shows the political will of France and Germany to seek common solutions, despite sometimes divergent views. Herein lies the success of Franco-German cooperation, which is the main driving force behind European integration.  

This cooperation between both countries is substantial for the existence of the EU and is of political, economic, and cultural importance. The participants had the opportunity to engage in a discussion with the ambassadors on the three pillars of the treaty, foreign policy, defense, education, and youth, and its impact on Franco-German cooperation to date.