EU Border Guards and Moldova's Economic Reintegration
EU Border Guards and Moldova's Economic Reintegration

Summary/Abstract: Since the EU started showing more interest in Moldova/Transnistria the process of instituting joint border control has made considerable progress. This proves that the EU disposes of the adequate leverage and incentive to ensure the co-operation of even the more reluctant elements of the elites in Chisinau and Kiev, which have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. It is also undeniable that Moldova has found the means, outside the framework of the high profile political negotiations, to increase its leverage over Transnistria and to restrict Transnistria’s manoeuvring space in (obstructing) the negotiation process. Several factors have made this possible. Moldova’s actions are low-profile and are confined to practical steps mainly at expert level within the economic sphere. This approach has also facilitated EU involvement which is known for favouring such processes. Most importantly, ‘Russia is out and the EU is in’. Finally, the entry onto the scene of the EU has had a decisive impact, not in the least through its financial commitments. The EUs support for Moldova’s position shows its desire to become more involved in its near abroad and to secure its external boundaries by eradicating any kinds of threats posed by trafficking activities and unrecognised secessionist regimes.

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