Moldova: A Success Story of the Eastern Partnership? Meeting with external expert (in negotiation) + Discussion about Position paper 3 (25 March 2025)
The
lecture and subsequent discussion will focus on Moldova and the question to
what extent EU engagement with Moldova can be considered a success story.
In the
context of the Eastern Partnership policy, the EU has had to face a number of
challenges, including frozen conflicts, the problem of the competing influence
of other actors, especially Russia, a complicated internal situation in
particular countries, divided public opinion on the country's foreign policy
orientation, etc. Moldova and the conflict situations (not only) in
Transnistria are such an example. Internal developments in the country,
including the role of the various actors in the situation, have also been an
important factor. The context of the current situation, the conflict in
Ukraine, the complex security and energy situation of the country, the fragile
internal politics and the incursion of external actors into the elections (see
the referendum and presidential elections in 2024) should also be taken into
account.
On the
other hand, however, the current pro-European government and, in particular,
President Maya Sandu, are trying to make a significant contribution to
encouraging pro-EU sentiment in the country, even though it is clear that
Moldova is facing a number of problems, including those that are not related to
the current war in Ukraine and are of a long-term nature: The economic
situation, the long-standing problem of the exodus of the working-age
population and young people to work or live abroad, energy vulnerability,
Russian influence in the country through political forces also operating from
abroad, separatism (not only Transnistria but also Gagauzia), past corruption
scandals and corruption as a persistent problem in the judiciary or at various
levels of state and local government. On the other hand, the EU and other
actors (especially individual Member States in the framework of their
development policy) are trying to support the Moldovan government in addressing
some of these problems.
Moreover,
the current issues are in the context of the 2025 parliamentary elections.
Questions
for discussion:
How
successful has been the EU's engagement with Moldova? What should be the current
EU's policy towards Moldova?
What are
the most important issues in the current context and what could be the
prospects for the country's development in relation to the EU, after the beginning
of the accession negotiations?
What role
does the Russian factor play (in various contexts)? What are the solutions and
prospects for the situation in Transnistria?
Readings (indicative):
(2021) Going back and forth: European Union resilience-building in Moldova between 2014 and 2020, Journal of Contemporary European Studies, DOI: 10.1080/14782804.2021.1989388
Remler, Philip (2022): Transnistria, Moldova and Russia´s War in Ukraine. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. August 02, 2022. On-line: https://carnegieendowment.org/2022/08/02/transdniestria-moldova-and-russia-s-war-in-ukraine-pub-87609
Recommended:
Danii, O., Mascauteanu, M. (2012): Moldova Under the European Neighbourhood Policy: „Falling Between Stools“. In: Korosteleva (ed.; 2012): s. 101 – 121.
Korosteleva, E. (2012): The European Union and its Eastern Neighbours. Towards a more ambitious partnership? London: Routledge, s. 104 – 124.
Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova (n.d.): https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/moldova_en
PRESENATATION:
Position paper 3
The texts assigned for this position paper touch upon 4 important issues:
1) the issue of frozen conflicts, separatist territories and the possibilities (and limits) of the EU to act as an actor in such a situation;
2) the problem of the Ukrainian conflict and the security threat that may also affect Moldova itself;
3) the country's internal problems (economic and energy situation, the issue of migration abroad for work and life);
4) the country's problematic and complicated internal political developments, which are closely linked to its foreign policy orientation, including its relationship with the EU and the prospects for future membership.
Choose the exact focus of your paper on one of the issues (in the context of EU-Moldova relations).
DEADLINE: Position paper must be uploaded to the particular folders no later than 1 p.m. of the day before the seminar for which the position paper is written, i.e. March 24, 2025, 1 p.m.
FOLDER FOR POSITION PAPER 3: