Chișinău weighs EU accession before Transnistrian reintegration, experts
The Republic of Moldova may join the European Union before fully reintegrating the Transnistrian region. In this case, the implementation of EU laws and standards in the left bank of the Nistru could be temporarily suspended, following the model of Cyprus. Experts and officials involved in the Transnistrian settlement process believe this scenario is possible, arguing that Chisinau's European aspirations should not be hindered by the absence of a definitive political solution.
The Republic of Moldova must continue implementing reforms and engaging in negotiations with the European Union regarding the right bank of the Nistru, even if applying the community acquis in the Transnistrian region will take longer. This perspective is held by Gheorghe Bălan, the former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration.
Bălan stated, “The barriers to implementing the community acquis on the left bank should not hinder progress on the right bank. We need to diligently fulfill our responsibilities here. In the Transnistrian region, these provisions will be implemented, albeit later. There may be a delay in the regulatory process, resulting in the same provisions being applied in Transnistrian region three to five years after they are implemented in the rest of the Republic of Moldova”, Balan stated in the show "Me and the European Union" on Moldova 1 TV.
Political analyst Oazu Nantoi acknowledged that the Transnistrian region could pose a challenge to the Republic of Moldova's EU accession; however, this ultimately hinges on Chișinău's ability to complete its necessary reforms. He commented, “From a technical standpoint, the negotiation process is ongoing and will soon progress to a political stage. We are currently addressing the 33 negotiation chapters, and for the moment, the Transnistrian issue is somewhat overshadowed. Nevertheless, when it comes to signing the accession treaty and the ratification process, we need to demonstrate that we have done our homework".
Ivan Țurcan, who heads the analytical and informational section within the Reintegration Policy Bureau, noted that there is a precedent in Cyprus, where the application of certain European provisions is suspended in the northern part of the island, controlled by separatist authorities. He warned that a similar scenario is not out of the question for the Republic of Moldova. "At the moment, we have a lot of work to do, step by step, gradually expanding our national frameworks. Chișinău is proactive, and while it is difficult to predict how this process will unfold in the coming years, there are certain precedent elements we should consider," said Țurcan.
Conversely, Vadim Vieru, a lawyer and program director at the Promo-LEX Association, expressed concerns about Moldova's readiness for rapid reintegration, emphasizing that the process involves more than just a political decision. "If someone from Tiraspol came tomorrow and said let's reintegrate, I don’t think we would be ready. It’s a very complex process; the reintegration effort is becoming increasingly complicated, as many unknown variables appear along the way."
Vieru reiterated that the responsibility for the reintegration process does not rest solely with the government office. He believes it involves the entire government, all ministries, and local public administration. He highlighted that the absence of clear technical plans is delaying preparations for potential reunification. "We can have a well-conceived strategy, but if we do not have a clear understanding of how to approach this at the level of cohesion and within the central apparatus, it will slow us down. We must discuss our plans for the justice system, the prisoners there, the social services for individuals who should receive pensions, how those pensions will be paid, and how to integrate them into the pension system. We also need to address our medical system, education system, and the impact of propaganda that has influenced the people," Vieru pointed out.
We recall that the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Valeriu Chiveri, stated earlier this week during the show "La 360 de grade" on Radio Moldova that the Republic of Moldova aims to join the EU with its entire territory. However, if reintegration is not completed by then, Chișinău is considering a creative solution: temporarily suspending the application of the community acquis on the left bank of the Nistru River.
