--- title: "The Economist: Moldova-Romania unification difficult but possible" url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/83251/the-economist-moldova-romania-unification-difficult-but-possible published: 2026-08-17T13:39:24Z language: en author: "Nicoleta Borodin" section: "Social" source: radiomoldova.md --- # The Economist: Moldova-Romania unification difficult but possible > The potential union of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, while complex, remains a possibility in the regional geopolitical landscape. An analysis published by The Economist indicates that if Chisinau's European path is blocked, uniting with a member state of the European Union (EU) could become a viable alternative. The publication argues that economic, political, and geopolitical obstacles can be overcome with support from the West. Political analyst Anatol Țăranu noted in an interview with Teleradio-Moldova that the EU would have a vested interest in financing this process to reduce vulnerabilities and diminish Russian influence in the region. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/d48c5f4e-1477-47be-a5c7-ebc4b5e3a272.jpg) The potential union of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, while complex, remains a possibility in the regional geopolitical landscape. An analysis published by The Economist indicates that if Chisinau's European path is blocked, uniting with a member state of the European Union (EU) could become a viable alternative. The publication argues that economic, political, and geopolitical obstacles can be overcome with support from the West. Political analyst Anatol Țăranu noted in an interview with Teleradio-Moldova that the EU would have a vested interest in financing this process to reduce vulnerabilities and diminish Russian influence in the region. Moldova is currently aiming to join the European Union by 2030, but several officials have suggested that unification with Romania could serve as a "Plan B." President Maia Sandu has stated she would vote "yes" in a potential referendum on unification. Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu, who is Moldova's Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, has referred to this idea as "Plan B." Notably, Romania's President, Nicușor Dan, and other Romanian politicians also support unionist positions. **Union - difficult but not impossible** However, this scenario presents several obstacles. One major challenge is that Romania lacks the economic resources that West Germany had to facilitate the integration of the Republic of Moldova on a scale comparable to Germany's reunification. Furthermore, Chisinau does not control the Transnistrian region, and the status of Gagauz autonomy could create additional complications. Despite these challenges, the analysis suggests that they may not be insurmountable. The Transnistrian region is already economically connected to the EU, with approximately 70% of its exports directed toward the European market. Regarding Gagauzia, which has a population of around 100,000 spread across several enclaves, any potential bid for independence could prove difficult to sustain economically, given that it would be surrounded by EU territory. In support of a possible union, it is noted that the majority of Moldova's population speaks Romanian and that most of the country’s current territory was part of Romania from 1918 to 1940. The authors of the analysis compare the situation in Moldova with that in Albania and Kosovo, where a significant portion of the population supports unification. However, they also highlight that the prospect of the Republic of Moldova unifying with Romania would be complex and uncertain. If Moldova's European integration were to be stalled, unification with Romania might become a more frequently discussed alternative. The analysis suggests that while this scenario is unlikely to happen in the near future, it cannot be ruled out entirely over the next ten years. **Union: The only sustainable development opportunity for the Republic of Moldova** Union should not be seen merely as a hypothetical scenario or a backup plan. According to historian Anatol Țăranu, the Republic of Moldova, in its current form, lacks sufficient prospects for sustainable development. *"Today, the Republic of Moldova is one of the most vulnerable states in Europe. The 35 years of the Republic's existence demonstrate that, in its current state, our nation has no chance for sustainable and lasting development,"* Țăranu stated in an interview with Teleradio-Moldova. The historian argues that closer ties with Romania would provide Moldova with an unprecedented opportunity for economic, social, and political progress. *"Union would lead to significant economic, social, and political advancements for the Republic of Moldova. No other candidate for European integration has the same opportunity that Moldova possesses,"* Țăranu explained. Additionally, he suggested that the Union would serve to restore historical continuity. *"Reuniting the Republic of Moldova with Romania would represent an act of historical justice, reflecting the logical progression of historical development in Europe,"* he noted. In Țăranu's view, the Union between Moldova and Romania is *"practically inevitable,"* and delaying this process would have negative consequences for the population. *"The longer we postpone this process, the more the people of the Republic of Moldova will suffer, as there is no other sustainable opportunity for rapid and robust development than the Union with Romania,"* he concluded. The historian acknowledges that the Transnistrian region is one of the key geopolitical barriers to potential reunification. However, he suggests that the European Union has a vested interest in addressing this issue. “It is absolutely clear that Europe should be interested in removing this contentious point from its political landscape. If Europe wants to prevent the Republic of Moldova from becoming a destabilizing factor that the Russian Federation can exploit against the European Union, then it must actively support the reunification process,” stated Anatol Țăranu. Additionally, if reunification were to occur, Russia's influence over the Republic of Moldova would diminish significantly. “The only truly radical solution is Union with Romania. From this perspective, Russia will permanently lose its ability to exert influence over the Republic of Moldova,” the analyst concluded. **The economic costs of union, compensated by the EU** Anatol Țăranu argues that the economic costs associated with unification could be at least partially offset by support from the European Union. He stated, *"Union with Romania will certainly be assisted by European funds. Cohesion funds could largely alleviate the financial difficulties that may arise for Romania during reunification."* According to the analyst, the costs of a potential reunification would be significantly lower than those incurred during the German reunification and should be viewed as an investment in European security. He added, *"This will be an investment in ensuring the security of the European Union. If someone tries to avoid these costs, they will make the European Union vulnerable, as the Republic of Moldova could become an insecure area."* In June of this year, the Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization, Eugen Osmochescu, suggested that the unification of the Republic of Moldova with Romania could serve as a *"Plan B"* if the European integration process encounters obstacles after 2028. The discussion around this topic was also revived by President Maia Sandu, who expressed her support for reunification in a potential referendum, stating that such a move would accelerate European integration. Currently, public support for unification varies significantly between the two sides of the Prut. In Romania, support is approximately 70%, while in the Republic of Moldova, it stands around 40%.