The Republic of Moldova is member of the South East Cooperation Process, and there are prerogatives for Moldova to become member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). The executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy, political analyst Igor Botan, on Monday, October 2, during the Moldovan-German meeting entitled “Republic of Moldova – the future neighbor of the EU” declared that if all Balkan and CEFTA member countries join the EU, it would be absurd if Republic of Moldova doesn’t join as well. Botan reminded that the population of the Republic of Moldova makes up 0.7% of the EU population, and the economy of RM is 0.03% of the EU economy, while the development rates are way smaller that the average European rate. If not out of clemency, EU could accept Moldova out of goodwill, under the condition that RM introduces adequate democratic standards and creates opportunities for European investments. The cited course also claimed that the joining of Romania to the EU on January 1 2007 is a positive factor for the Republic of Moldova, and while Romania can share its experience, it cannot do Moldova’s homework. According to the director of the European Initiative program of the Soros-Moldova Foundation, Iulian Fruntasu, the EU offers the possibility for Germany to become a leader. It is an adequate moment for Chancellor Angela Merkel to demonstrate that she is a European leader, including for countries currently outside the EU. In the case of the Republic of Moldova, it is important to preserve the factors that would aid a future adherence to EU, despite the so-called expansion exhaustion, Fruntasu stated. Dietmar Müler, representative of the Moldova-Leipzig Institute, declared that one of the goals of the Conference is to support collaboration with scientists, politicians, journalists from the Republic of Moldova, and to start a dialogue that will support the integration of the Republic of Moldova in the EU. Moldova is not known in Germany and the organizers of this event want to change these circumstances, in order to make Moldova at least as well known as Romania. The Moldovan-German seminar will take place during October 2-7. A group of teachers, young diplomats, directors of scientific projects, NGO leaders, and representatives of several foundations from Germany will have a series of meetings with representatives of different state and non-governmental organizations, of ethnic minorities, journalists and students from the Republic of Moldova. The event will arrange conferences, study visits and the presentation of several German foundations that support international cooperation, science and scientific research in the area. The meeting will be financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Collaboration and Economic Development and CIMETTIL.