The integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union is a strategic objective for both Moldova and the European Union. Although the European partners firmly support this accession, the timing and the way it will be achieved depend exclusively on the Republic of Moldova. This is the opinion expressed by Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, former President of the German Bundestag and current Chair of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS). In an interview with IPN News Agency, Norbert Lammert talked about Germany’s European integration process, highlighting the similarities with the path of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the factors on which Moldova’s accession to the EU depends.
– The Konrad Adenauer Foundation started work in the Republic of Moldova in 2009. Please tell us how the Foundation’s projects have evolved over the years?
– Only our local partners can tell us how strong the impact of our activity in the Republic of Moldova has been. Our contribution was to make them an offer of assistance to support the country’s development. Based on our own experience of democratic development in Germany, we are trying to find organisations, especially political parties, in the partner countries with whom we could formulate and implement such joint development projects. It was not a process that guarantees success from the start. It took shape, first of all, with the establishment of the Party of Action and Solidarity. In this regard, I can say that we are very satisfied with this cooperation and we have the justified impression that it has contributed to the stabilization of democratic institutions and a living party system here, in the Republic of Moldova.
– The Foundation’s work focuses on political education and training of young people, encouraging them to get actively involved in civic and political life. Can you tell us how the Foundation manages to attract young people from the Republic of Moldova to actively participate in the democratic processes and political life of the country?
– That’s right. Our work, especially in the field of political education, is based on the conviction that any democratic system, unlike authoritarian regimes, needs, for its vitality, a committed civil society. We aim to encourage and motivate engagement in society for society, and this does not necessarily mean political engagement in the narrow sense of the word, but rather is reflected in civic engagement in various community activities. In this respect, our work in the Republic of Moldova is not different from our work in Germany. We seek to reach as many people as possible, and when we have the impression that someone is ready to get involved, we offer them support through education, formation and training. It is, in principle, a combination of information, motivation and commitment. In this regard, we also award KAS scholarships, both to young people from the country and those who are abroad. I would like to emphasize that the decision regarding the degree, place, duration of involvement is never taken by us. It is taken by each young person or, when it comes to institutional cooperation, by the respective partner organization.
– What are the Foundation’s short and long-term objectives as regards the promotion of the European path of the Republic of Moldova?
– We share the objective of the current government to follow the European path as we believe that this is both in the European interest and in the interest of this country, and we are making effort to contribute to the achievement of the steps that are to be taken in this regard. But I emphasize once again that the taking of this decision and also the timing and sequence of solving the problems that derive from the taking of this decision do not fall within our competence. It is the prerogative of the Government and Parliament of this country, and the results of the referendum of the end of October will certainly be an essential precondition for this.
– Germany is one of the six countries that, after World War II, in the 1950s, began the process of building the entity we know today as the European Union. What are the historical peculiarities of Germany’s integration into the European Union?
– The process of European unification was of particular importance for Germany’s new political and economic beginning after World War II. Germany’s return to the European and international community of states was not only accompanied over time by this process of European unification, but it would not have been possible without this inclusion in a common European development. However, and here there can be a kind of parallel with the current situation in the Republic of Moldova, initially, this process was not at all without controversy because a considerable part of the German public and also of the political system, the system of competing parties, perceived Konrad Adenauer’s decision in favor of Germany’s inclusion in the European community of states as a refusal to restore German unity and, therefore, he pleaded for a neutral position rather than for Germany’s inclusion in the Western community of states. Konrad Adenauer and the Christian Union he led at the time were, however, convinced that the road to the restoration of German unity passed through Europe, otherwise there was no other promising path. This is how Germany was and became a success, and Germany’s economic development, which many considered an “economic miracle”, was also largely linked to its membership in a large common market that went far beyond the borders of the own country and which also led to more and more states, initially Western European ones, wanting to join it and the community of states associated with it.
– When did European unity become truly tangible for German citizens?
– It was a process that began very early, when, with the establishment of the European Economic Community and the signing of the Treaties of Rome, many young employees, including Helmut Kohl, dismantled, together with their French colleagues, the barriers that existed on the borders between Germany and France. There was a great spirit of optimism and determination to put an end to the rivalries that had plagued Europe for decades and centuries, and when the Treaties of Rome were adopted and the European Economic Community was founded, it quickly became a model of success. Even the UK, which was involved in the negotiations and left them after a few days, became the first country to apply for membership of the European Community. Its request, it is true, failed due to the opposition of the then French President, de Gaulle. So, it was a turbulent process in many ways, but also a great success overal.
– The objectives of the European Union include promoting peace, ensuring the wellbeing of its citizens, guaranteeing security and justice, all in an area without internal borders. Achieving these goals undoubtedly requires considerable effort. In which areas does Germany make the most important contribution within the European Union?
– All these areas are interdependent and over time, naturally, priorities shift from one area to another. A few years ago, no one would have thought that we would need so many financial resources to strengthen our own security architecture and to support countries that are directly affected, such as Ukraine at the moment. It is therefore all the more important that, for many years, the EU has expressly seen itself not only as a common market, but as a political union. The capacity to react together to challenges that sometimes affect one country to a greater extent than another is important, and this unfortunately was the reason why the United Kingdom left the community, placing more value on maintaining independence than on inclusion in such a common decision-making system.
– What benefits does European integration bring to Germany?
– Germany plays a visible role within the EU due to its geographical position, size and economic power. The fact that Germany is recognized and can have an influence beyond the European continent, in an international context, is largely due to its membership in the European Community. No European state can by itself play a sufficiently important role globally to be recognised. Europe, within the borders of the European Union, represents 7% of the global population. This fact alone makes it clear that we can only influence global processes when we act together.
– It is known that the decision to accept a country in the European Union also depends on the relations that the member states have with the candidate state. Is the Republic of Moldova seen as a country that has all the chances of accession or as a country that still needs preparation?
– Both. It has every chance of joining the EU and must meet all the necessary conditions for membership.
– With the accession to the EU, the Republic of Moldova will benefit from multiple advantages, but it will also have important responsibilities. What should the Republic of Moldova, its citizens and state institutions prepare for?
– All these aspects are clearly defined. The Copenhagen criteria clearly explain the conditions under which a country can become a member of the European Union. Once these were accepted on the merits, proof of compliance with existing European regulations and, where necessary, further development of national institutions follow. Above all, it goes to the functional system of separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, the consistent fight against corruption.
– Earlier this year, Deutsche Welle in an article said that Europe is facing five major challenges, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and EU enlargement (accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova). Do the German authorities believe that, with the entry of the Republic of Moldova into the EU, the state of affairs within the Union could somehow change? How do you think the bilateral relations between Germany and Moldova will change after accession?
– Friendly relations between states can exist even without them having the status of member of the European Union and the UK is an eloquent example of this. We are not hostile, although the British left the EU. What matters is whether we tackle common challenges together or whether each country does it alone, with its own resources, sometimes perhaps in competition with each other. In our opinion, Moldova’s accession to the EU is both in the strategic interest of the country and in the interest of the European Union, which is why we are doing our best to support this process. But, I reiterate once again, the decision to support this process or not and, if so, in what way, will be taken here, in the country, not in Brussels or Berlin.
Milena Macarciuc, IPN
