 |
|
| Dionis Cenuşa | |
Romania is a country with enormous, but also exclusive potential that, mobilized in a correct manner, could have a huge impact on the European integration of the Republic of Moldova. The Romanian language is one of the 24 official languages of the EU. This enables easy access to the European legislation for the Moldovan citizens and decision makers. The Romanian side takes part in decision-making within the Council of the European Union, is present in the European Commission (the Regional Policy portfolio), decides the main development directions of the EU in the European Council alongside other countries and is represented in the European Parliament (Andi Cristea, Siegfried Muresan, Monica Macovei, Cristian Preda and others, 32 Romanian MEPs altogether).
Also, Romania played a key role in the launch of the European Action Group for Moldova within the EU (informal club of EU member states that are Moldova’s friends) in January 2010. Owing to Romania’s openness, a Moldovan-Romanian intergovernmental commission for European integration was instituted (2012) with the aim of intensifying communication between institutions working in different areas (transport, rural development, justice, etc.). The €100 million in non-reimbursable assistance for 2015-2020 intended for transport, modernization of border crossing points and energy interconnection is another way of producing positive effects that can connect Moldova to the EU. The loan of €150 million that is to be provided by Romania to the government of Moldova during the next five years, as it was agreed in October 2015, confirms once again that Moldova’s neighbor has important resources that can be used within the reformation agenda that includes Moldova’s European integration as well.
Even if Romania is involved in the promotion of Moldova’s European course both at bilateral level and at European level, the general perception is that something is missing in this amalgam of efforts. Consequently, it is hard to measure Romania’s real influence on the European integration of Moldova.
Main weaknesses
The shortcomings in Romania’s actions aimed at promoting Moldova’s European course that can be highlighted are political, civic and communicative in character.
First of all, there are no charismatic political leaders in Romania, whose pragmatic and also non-unionist approach towards the European integration of Moldova would attract sympathies from the Moldovan citizens. Romania’s voice for the European cause of Moldova must not be abstract or purely institutional, but must be humanized with names and concrete persons.
Also, the situation in the Republic of Moldova is understood superficially by most of the Romanian experts and journalists. But the situation improves and the number of those who specialize in Moldova is on the rise, owing also to the Moldovans who graduate from Romanian universities.
Furthermore, few Romanian experts are involved in the EU’s assistance projects in Moldova. This diminishes the possibility of employing the linguistic affinities in the communication on the Europeans integration with Moldovan journalists and the public.
Last but not least, there are no formats and instruments of inclusive communication in the field of European integration, supported by the government of Romania, the NGO sector and other relevant players of Romania.
Cheap, but efficient solutions
The growing of political leaders in Romania, who would be sensible towards Moldova’s European cause and sufficiently charismatic, but unaffiliated to the unionist movement, is a difficult, but possible mission in the medium and long terms. These could appear among naturalized Moldovans who integrated into the Romanian society, if they win the political competition with the supporters of unionism, who are now rather influential.
Joint platforms must be developed at the level of civil society and the mass media. These are yet inexistent or depend on temporary sector projects. The institutionalization of Moldovan-Romanian, pro-European integration civic forums would contribute to the acceleration of the transfer of knowledge and information in both directions. Also, the Romanian NGO sector should be stimulated to take part in bilateral projects with Moldovan organizations and this thing can be imposed as a condition by the community of donors, based on the example of the transfrontier projects implemented with the support of the EU. The message about the European integration can be transmitted in the simplest, cheapest and efficient way through the Romanian language and within Moldovan-Romanian projects.
The importance of the reforms done by implementing the Association Agreement can be swifter and better explained by Romanian experts engaged in European projects rather than by experts who speak other European languages. This remark is not a call for positive discrimination in favor of the Romanian experts, but a call for the intelligent use of the financial and human resources possessed by the EU.
Similarly, Romania possesses resources to develop innovative projects in the area of communication on European integration - from the formulation of recommendations about the correct implementation of the European norms to the promotion of good practices of entering the European market for the Moldovan business community. The creation by Romania, together with the EU Delegation, of a “European Center” in Chisinau would be an initiative with enormous public impact. This could constantly host public events (book launches, public debates, film sessions and conferences for young people) staged by the NGO sector and the mass media from the two states.
Instead of conclusion
The actions taken by Romania so far to increase Moldova’s visibility on the European map are incontestable, but these anyway seem pulverized. More pronounced leaderism on the part of Romania is needed in promoting the European integration in Moldova, which would be as powerful as within the policies to promote the Romanian identity.
The current approach of Romania is too timid to be efficient in promoting the European integration in Moldova, especially given the level of anti-EU hostility existing in the region and the geopolitical mobilization of Russia.
There are many methods of making Romania’s European experience become more useful and usable for the Moldovan public. The most efficient transmitters of the knowledge and information accumulated by Romania during the nine years of its entry into the EU come from the NGO sector and the mass media. That’s why the creation of permanent Moldovan-Romanian and pro-European civic platforms represents a priority.
Currently, the Romanian factor as an agent of Moldova’s Europeanization is powerfully underestimated and is not used. The knowledge and experience of Romania are unique and should be transferred to the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible, including by multiplying the interactions and non-political communication channels. It’s time for the Romanian language to play an increased role in the European integration of the Republic of Moldova.
IPN publishes in the Op-Ed rubric opinion pieces submitted by authors not affiliated with our editorial board. The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily coincide with the opinions of our editorial board.