Ice Has Broken. Romania Presented Unification Plan with Moldova without Transdniestria

Home / Analytics / Ice Has Broken. Romania Presented Unification Plan with Moldova without Transdniestria
Last week in Bucharest, experts and ambassadors of Russia and Moldova were presented a sociological study “Perception, attitude and values of the population from the Left Bank of the Dniester”. The study was conducted by the Black Sea University Fund (Romania) on the order of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. This event and the results of the survey made a stir: in fact, the study announced a big deal – absorption of Moldova by Romania in exchange for the independence of Transdniestria. All this seems incredible only at first glance. A few days later, Petrisor Peiu, a representative of the Black Sea University Fund, the one that conducted the survey in Transdniestria for US money, presented the fundamental principles of the possible re-unification of Romania and Moldova in a broadcast on one of the leading Romanian TV channels – Realitaea TV. The presentation was held with all seriousness, with invited representatives of political parties, the head of the legal commission of the Romanian Parliament and journalists in the studio. Scenario of unification of Romania and Moldova? Here are the basic principles for the unification of the two countries outlined by Petrisor Peiu: “Entire reunification” without intermediate steps and gradual assimilation. The entry of the entire territory of the current RM under Romanian jurisdiction, full adoption of Romanian legislation – the territory between the Prut and the Dniester will automatically become part of the EU and NATO. Approval of the Bucharest-Chisinau unification by the parliaments, followed by the immediate convening of the Joint Romanian Parliament. Bucharest is the capital. The rights of minorities enshrined in the current Romanian legislation guarantee the rights of Moldovan minorities on the pattern of the Hungarian community. Pensions and salaries of civil servants of Moldova on the first day will be brought to the level of Romanian. All national companies will be able to operate freely on both banks of the Prut. Consolidation of national institutions, such as the Constitutional Court, ANRE, etc., changing of their governing bodies in accordance with the principle of proportionality (5/6 for Romania and 1/6 for the Republic of Moldova). Guarantee for 20 years of proportional representation (1/6) in the new government for Romanians in the current Republic of Moldova. Allocation of at least 1/6 of the European and national investment funds provided to Romania for infrastructure and development projects in present-day Moldova. Creation of an investment fund – Moldova Fund – with a minimum size of 2% of GDP for at least 25 years, intended to overcome the development gap between the left and right banks of the Prut. In accordance with the current Romanian legislation, the county will become the main administrative-territorial unit for the territory of the present Moldova. Benefits, costs and the Transdniestrian issue According to the authors of the plan, the unification will require funding in the amount of 1/6 of the current budget of Romania, that is at least $ 10 billion. At the same time, the budget of Moldova should cover $ 1.5 billion. Thus, the ‘reunification’ project will require to find almost $ 8.5 billion annually for at least 20 years. However, the researchers believe that the cost of unirea will be partially paid by pan-European funds and other economic instruments. The potential benefits of the unification are population growth, 4 per cent economic growth, increased attractiveness and creation of a larger market, as well as the expansion of Romanian industrial enterprises, banks and large companies in Moldova. Apparently, the ice has broken – Bucharest, with the support of Washington, is restarting the process of unification with Moldova, this time creating a clear scientific background for it. The proposed plan looks quite real and promises the Moldovan society tangible socio-economic benefits. It is interesting that the Romanian researchers has adopted the principled position that the unirea will not involve the Left Bank of the Dniester. That’s what Petrisor Peiu said in the air about the Transdniestrian region: “The most acute problem is Transdniestria, the territory behind the Dniester, where Russian troops are located. Unfortunately, the only realistic option for those who are in Chisinau is to abandon Transdniestria and resettle those who consider themselves Romanians from there to Romania.” This symbolic sequence of events only reinforces the assumption that the regional space around the Prut and the Dniester is waiting for geopolitical restructuring with far-reaching plans. There is no doubt that in addition to the fundamental principles of unification of Moldova and Romania, the Black Sea University Fund has quite specific variety of plans that are likely to be released soon. It seems that the current cautious attempts to encourage the idea of the future merger of the two states in the public and political debate will subsequently take a very different, practical form – with specific deadlines and proposals to all interested countries.