European Union leaders agreed earlier this month to open formal membership negotiations with Moldova and neighbouring Ukraine.

Sandu has said this opened a “new page” for the country of 2.6 million people that borders Ukraine and EU member Romania.

“We still have important steps to take and I promise to continue if you give me your confidence for a new term in 2024,” she said in a post on Facebook.

She also asked parliament to “initiate the organisation of a referendum (on EU membership) next autumn, in which the voice of the citizens would be decisive”.

Sandu, a 51-year-old former World Bank economist, is leading polls for the presidential vote to be held by late next year.

A poll earlier this month put her support at some 30%, ahead of Russia-friendly ex-president Igor Dodon at 24%.

Sandu defeated Dodon at the end of 2020 to become president.

Moldova’s current pro-EU government has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and alleged that Moscow was behind a plot to try and overthrow it.