European Integration

The current relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union (EU) are defined by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed on November 28, 1994 and in force since July 1, 1998. Good use of the opportunities provided by the PCA constitutes a priority for the Republic of Moldova and represents an important stage in the integration into the EU. Moldova will continue to act in order to put into practice the clauses of the Agreement in order to intensify its dialogue with the EU, consolidate its market economy and democracy and harmonize its national legislation with the EU legislation. At the same time, the PCA does not contain a final objective of the relations between the Republic of Moldova and the EU and focuses only on the cooperation dimension and not on the progressive integration into the EU. The relations of the Republic of Moldova with the EU should be regarded in the context of recent evolution in the South-Eastern Europe and on the whole European continent, the EU facing at present the most considerable enlargement in its history. In December 1997, at the Luxembourg European Council the decision was taken to start accession negotiations with six European countries. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Slovenia and Cyprus. In December 1999, the Helsinki European Council decided to start accession negotiations with other six countries - Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania and Malta - EU approaching the direct border of the Republic of Moldova. In May 1999, by launching the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and subsequently the Stabilization and Association Process, the EU offers the opportunity for European Integration to five countries of South-Eastern Europe which do not have at present signed association agreements with the EU: Macedonia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. The EU will sign with these countries, depending upon the degree of preparation of each country, Stabilization and Association Agreements. The countries that are not yet ready for an Agreement will receive assistance for the preparation of the necessary conditions. These recent developments constitute a historic moment in the difficult process of rebuilding an united, prosperous and stable Europe with no demarcation lines. Moldova can not stay outside the processes unfolding in South Eastern Europe and on the whole European continent. Moldova, as an South Eastern European country, does not request a special treatment but the same treatment applied to other countries of South Eastern Europe. By becoming full member of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and by initiating association negotiations with the EU, Moldova will obtain a chance to be together with other European states of the region within the tomorrow’s united Europe and would make a decisive step in the process of European integration.

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