The Republic of Moldova is at a historic moment. Since the summer of 2022, in the context of the war in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova has become a candidate state for accession to the European Union. The start of the accession process, then accession and actual integration will change the DNA of Moldovan society.
Here are seven arguments in favour of Moldova’s accession to the European Union.
- Moldova has been part of Europe since prehistory. One of the most brilliant prehistoric civilisations, the Cucuteni, developed in Moldova. In ancient times, Greek colonies were established in the south of Moldova and the area north of the Black Sea was under the control of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, the present territory of the Republic of Moldova was controlled by the Principality of Moldavia, which was one of the most active players in the European political system. Moldova’s elites were educated in Poland, Transylvania, Rome and other European countries. In 1812, the territory of Moldova between the Prut and the Dniester was occupied by the Russian Empire, but after World War I it was liberated by the Kingdom of Romania. After the Second World War, the territory of the Republic of Moldova was incorporated into the USSR, and after the fall of communism it proclaimed its independence. Throughout its history, the Republic of Moldova belongs to Europe.
2. The Republic of Moldova has paid the price of freedom. In 1992, the small army of the Republic of Moldova faced, for the first time, the Russian army in the war in Transnistria. This war was born out of Russia’s desire to take revenge for Moldova’s decision to move closer to the West. First, the Russians across the Dniester were encouraged to proclaim their independence from the Republic of Moldova. Their secession was not recognised by the international community, so a real war broke out, in which the poorly armed Moldovan army heroically defeated the troops of the 14th Russian Army, who were supporting the Transnistrian militias. Since the summer of 1992, part of Moldova has been under Russian occupation and the conflict has been frozen.
3. Moldovan culture is deeply European. It is, in fact, Romanian culture. In Moldova, the official language is Romanian, the culture is identical to that of Romania, and the accession of the Republic of Moldova naturally implies the reunification of Romanians into the great European family.
4. Romanians living in the Republic of Moldova have the right to Romanian citizenship. They, their parents or grandparents were deprived of their Romanian citizenship without their will after the annexation of Bessarabia by the Soviet Union. These Romanians are therefore entitled to have their Romanian citizenship restored. The Romanian state has already taken steps in this direction, and Romanians in Bessarabia can apply to regain Romanian citizenship. More than half a million inhabitants of the Republic of Moldova have already obtained Romanian citizenship, and several hundred thousand others have already applied for and will receive Romanian citizenship. This means that they are European citizens. Thus, Moldova’s integration into the European Union will, in fact, mean the integration of a state whose citizens already enjoy the status of citizens of the European Union.
5. The economy of the Republic of Moldova is strongly linked to that of the European Union. The main trading partner and investor in the Republic of Moldova is Romania. There are also excellent relations with other European countries: Germany, France, Italy and Poland. Moldova’s accession to the European Union will deepen this process of economic integration. This will benefit both the Republic of Moldova and the European Union.
6. The European states have finally abandoned the approach that they have to spare Russia. Some Western diplomats believed that the Republic of Moldova was in Russia’s sphere of influence. But this approach is deeply immoral. Beyond a state’s supposed right to a sphere of influence, people have the right to decide their own future. And if the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have chosen the path that leads them to the European Union, their choice must be respected. It is a fundamental democratic principle. If this principle were not respected, there would be no moral basis for the European Union.
7. The Republic of Moldova will bring a great gain to the European Union. It is not just a question of an enlarged territory or an additional population that will buy European products and produce for other European citizens, but first and foremost a multicultural state that can be a model of integration, inspiring other states in the region that wish to join the European Union. The reforms adopted in recent years have demonstrated Moldova’s willingness to put European values into practice. These values have been demonstrated in practice in the context of the war in Ukraine. The Republic of Moldova received the highest number of refugees in relation to the total population. This generosity deserves to be rewarded with a clear path to early accession, once Moldova meets the basic conditions for admission to the EU bloc.
