Moldova–European Union relations
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Relations between Moldova and the European Union (EU) are currently shaped via the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), an EU foreign policy instrument dealing with countries bordering its member states.
Moldova has strong ties to EU member state Romania. Indeed, during the interbellum the two countries were united. They share a common language, traditions and culture. The Moldovan flag is a modified version of the Romanian equivalent, with the Moldovan arms superimposed in its centre. Despite Moldovan nationalist tendencies and a sizable Russophone minority, the Romanians, whilst having no ongoing claim to Moldovan territory per se see Moldovans as culturally and ethnically Romanian. The former period of union enables Romanian passports and concurrent EU citizenship to be routinely granted to Moldovans on the basis of descent. A proportion of Moldovans currently identify as Romanian. (see below)
The Republic of Moldova actively pursues EU membership. The level of poverty in Moldova (the country is the poorest of potential EU members) is a stumbling block to accession. The Transnistrian dispute, concerning a self-proclaimed breakaway republic backed by the Russian Federation government, is also an obstacle.
Nevertheless, the EU is developing an increasingly close relationship with Moldova, going beyond cooperation, to gradual economic integration and a deepening of political cooperation. The EU has opened an office in Chişinău (the Moldovan capital), and appointed on 23 March 2005, a special representative, Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, to Moldova to focus on the resolution of the crisis in Transnistria. The European Commission opened up a new office in Moldova on 6 October 2005 headed by Cesare de Montis. The major strategic priority of Moldova now is membership in European institutions.
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