While the war in Ukraine has reignited the threat of violent border shifts along Europe’s eastern frontier, Romania and Moldova are doubling down on a different kind of transformation: European integration. A recent joint meeting of the legal committees of Romania and Moldova in Chișinău serves as a powerful signal of this trajectory. Focused on institutional and legal harmonization, this collaboration between the two states provides a practical roadmap for Moldova’s eventual admission to the European Union.
This collaboration is part of a broader effort by Romania to support Moldova’s EU aspirations. Romania, as an EU member since 2007 and Moldova’s closest ally, plays a pivotal role in guiding the latter through the complex reforms required for accession to the European Union Treaties. This partnership involves direct technical and institutional expertise, covering judicial independence, anti-corruption frameworks, and legal harmonization with the EU acquis.
The process of applying for and obtaining European Union membership is a rigorous legal journey governed by Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). This article establishes that any European state respecting the EU’s values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights, as defined in Article 2 TEU, may apply to become a member.
The application to become an EU member state is addressed to the Council of the European Union, which must notify the European Parliament and national parliaments. The European Commission then evaluates the applicant’s compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria, adopted by the European Council in 1993, which require a stable democracy, a functioning market economy, and the ability to adopt and implement the acquis communautaire, the body of EU law that all EU member states must abide by. If the Commission’s opinion is positive, the Council, acting unanimously after consulting the Commission and obtaining the consent of the European Parliament (as per Article 49 TEU), decides whether to open accession negotiations. Negotiations are conducted under the framework of Article 49 TEU and follow the Accession Negotiation Framework, a non-treaty document adopted by the Council, which structures discussions into 35 chapters covering all policy areas of the EU.
Each chapter is closed only when the applicant meets the EU’s legal and administrative benchmarks, a process overseen by the Commission. The legal basis for these negotiations is further supported by Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which governs the procedure for concluding international agreements, including accession treaties. Once negotiations are complete, an accession treaty is drafted, which must be signed and ratified by the applicant and all EU member states in accordance with their constitutional requirements. The treaty also requires the approval of the European Parliament under Article 49 TEU and Article 218(6)(a) TFEU.
The final step is the deposit of the ratification instruments, after which the applicant becomes an EU member on the date specified in the treaty. Throughout this process, Article 7 TEU serves as a safeguard, allowing the EU to address any serious breach of its values by the applicant, though this provision is more commonly applied to existing member states. The entire procedure is designed to ensure that new members are fully prepared to integrate into the EU’s legal, economic, and political structures, upholding the principles enshrined in the treaties.
Beyond the legal process, Romania’s involvement in Moldova’s road to EU membership is a strategic power move. It offers Moldova the expertise needed to transpose EU legislation into national law while acting as a political advocate within the European Council to counterbalance external skepticism.
Romania’s involvement provides technical and institutional expertise. The joint discussions between the legal committees of both parliaments, covering judicial independence, anti-corruption frameworks, and legal harmonization with the EU acquis, demonstrate Romania’s direct contribution to Moldova’s reform agenda. Romania’s experience in transposing EU legislation into national law, particularly after its own accession in 2007, offers Moldova a roadmap for aligning its legal system with EU standards. This is critical, as the European Commission’s progress reports on Moldova’s candidacy will heavily scrutinize the effectiveness of its judicial and anti-corruption reforms, areas where Romania has both successes and lessons learned.
In addition to offering technical support, Romania acts as a political advocate for Moldova within the EU. As a member state, Romania can lobby on behalf of Moldova’s interests in the European Council and European Parliament, where accession decisions are ultimately made. The symbolic and practical support from Romanian politicians, such as meetings with Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Culture, reinforces Moldova’s credibility as a serious candidate committed to reform. Romania’s endorsement helps counterbalance skepticism from other EU members who may question Moldova’s readiness or the geopolitical implications of its accession, particularly given Russia’s ongoing involvement with the region.
Cultural and historical ties further strengthen the partnership between Romania and Moldova. The joint visit to the Monument to King Ferdinand I in Ialoveni, a symbol of Romania’s role in the 1918 union of Bessarabia with Romania, serves as a reminder of the shared identity and aspirations that underpin Moldova’s European path. This historical connection between the two countries fosters public and political will in Moldova for closer integration with the EU, which is essential for sustaining the momentum of reforms.
Finally, Romania’s support helps Moldova navigate the geopolitical challenges posed by Russia. Moldova’s EU accession is not just a technical process but a strategic realignment away from Russian influence. Romania, as a NATO and EU member, provides Moldova with a shield against Russian pressure, marked by energy blackmail, disinformation, or the frozen conflict in Transnistria. By strengthening Moldova’s legal and institutional resilience, Romania contributes to reducing the vulnerabilities that Russia could exploit to derail the accession process.
Historical Context
The historical context of the relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova—formerly known as the Romanian province of Bessarabia—adds depth to their current cooperation.
- The 1918 Union: Following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the National Council of Bessarabia voted for union with Romania, citing historical and ethnic ties. This unification, confirmed by the Treaty of Trianon and the Paris Peace Conference, saw Romania’s territory and population double.
- Soviet Annexation: The Romanian union was shattered by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, which placed Bessarabia under the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1940, the USSR issued an ultimatum, leading to the occupation of the region and decades of mass repression and forced Russification.
- Independence: Moldova declared independence on August 27, 1991, following the collapse of the USSR.
Romania’s role in Moldova’s EU accession is multidimensional: it provides expertise, political leverage, moral support, and geopolitical cover. The joint legal committee meetings are more than symbolic, they are a mechanism for accelerating Moldova’s reforms and signaling to Brussels that Moldova has the backing of a committed EU member. Without Romania’s active involvement, Moldova’s path to EU membership would be significantly harder, given the scale of the reforms required and the opposition from external actors.
The shared history of Romania and Moldova, marked by the 1918 union of Bessarabia with Romania, and the cultural and linguistic ties that endured despite decades of separation, has long fueled the dream of reunification for many Romanians and Moldovans alike.
While political and geopolitical realities have made a traditional form of state unification unlikely, Moldova’s accession to the European Union offers a modern, pragmatic path to achieving the same goal: borderless relations between the two states. EU membership for both countries would transform their relationship, removing physical, economic, and administrative barriers through the Single Market, common legal frameworks and the Schengen Area. For Moldova, EU accession would mean reconnecting with Romania not as a dependent territory but as an equal partner within the European project. The free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, core principles of the EU, would allow Moldovans and Romanians to interact, work, and live across borders as seamlessly as any two EU member states. This would effectively realize the spirit of unification in a 21st-century context, where sovereignty is preserved but cooperation is deepened.
Ultimately, EU membership offers a new vision for reunification. The rule of law, a central focus of Romania’s support for Moldova’s reforms, would ensure that both countries operate under the same legal and democratic standards, further aligning their institutions and societies. Culturally, EU membership would reinforce the shared identity of Romanians and Moldovans. Programs like Erasmus+, EU cultural funds, and cross-border infrastructure projects would strengthen people-to-people ties, much like the historical bonds that once united them. Economically, Moldova’s integration into the EU’s Single Market would allow it to benefit from Romania’s economic growth, while Romania would gain a stable, prosperous neighbor: a win for both states.
Even though the 1918 common dream of a single Romanian state may not be replicated in its original form, EU membership for Moldova would achieve its essence: a united, borderless space where history, culture, capital and opportunity flow freely between the two Romanian speaking territories. The European Union, with its principles of solidarity, cooperation, and shared sovereignty, provides the framework to turn this vision into reality, without the need for territorial unification, but with all its benefits. In this way, the everlasting dream finds its fulfillment not in merging two states, but in merging their futures on a political, economical, and visionary level.
