Nouvelles opportunités pour les relations entre la Roumanie et la Moldavie

Cet article de George Dura du CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) soutient qu’un renforcement des relations entre la Roumanie et la Moldavie est nécessaire, notamment après l’adhésion roumaine à l’Union européenne.

The paper begins by noting that relations between Romania and Moldova have improved markedly since the 2004 parliamentary and presidential elections in Romania, although the relationship has come under considerable strain in recent months. This is due to a rapprochement between Russia and Moldova, combined with new restrictions that Moldovans are facing in conducting trade and travel with Romania in the wake of its accession to the EU. Against this background, the author reviews the general principles that have guided Romania’s foreign policy vis-à-vis Moldova and outlines several practical suggestions for increasing co-operation.

Dura says that although Romania is already taking steps to offset the effects of its accession to the EU on its relations with Moldova, more can be done to increase co-operation. He singles out the need to deal with the huge demand for Romanian visas and Romanian citizenship as the top priority.

In regard to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the author says that the policy has failed to match Russia’s political and economic influence on Moldova, an important factor in the deterioration of Romanian-Moldovan relations. 

He says that the incentives offered by the ENP have so far « not been sufficient to ensure the irreversibility of democratisation or a sustained process of economic reforms in Moldova. Romania’s efforts in this regard are therefore most welcome ».