“Looking for someone to be the other side of the bet. And the bet I am willing to make – and even announce a large sum – is that the next guaranteed stage of EU enlargement will include at least three countries: Montenegro, Albania and Moldova. Because these are the easiest cases,” Tofan stated.
According to the investor, these three countries represent the most politically ready and “digestible” candidates for EU membership:
“Montenegro, Albania and Moldova are small countries with interesting tourism for Europeans, and this has political significance. These three countries are politically quite “digestible”, all three have strongly pro-European governments. I believe that they will sign the EU accession agreement before the end of 2028.
However, Tofan emphasizes that the outcome of the bet will not have a personal financial gain, as losing or winning will result in a donation to charity:
“I want to make an open bet for a large sum of money, and we will immediately agree that this amount will be donated to charity. Regardless of whether I win or lose – I will still be happy. But, of course, I want to win, because I will be very happy for Moldova”.
Tofan calls himself an optimist, but believes that “European integration is also about realism”:
“EU integration creates a very solid foundation for us, but it is not enough. We will still have to ‘plow’ there, fight to build a competitive economy. Because joining the EU is a chance, it’s an inflow of capital, it’s structural funds, it’s an increase in investor confidence. But it’s not enough. We have to do our homework well, “comb our hair”, wash our face and put our house in order”.
Vasily Tofan is a senior partner and member of Horizon Capital’s investment committee. He joined the firm in August 2012. Since 2018, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of maib Commercial Bank and also serves as Chairman of the Administrative Board of Purcari Wineries Public Company Limited.
Recently, he and 27 other representatives of the business environment from Moldova and the diaspora united to more actively promote the economic component of European integration by signing the manifesto “12 steps for a healthy economy”.
In unofficial circles, Vasile Tofan’s name is mentioned among possible candidates for the post of prime minister after the parliamentary elections to be held on September 28.
