The ringing in of the New Year has brought the EU two new members: Romania and Bulgaria. While this in itself provides plenty of space for discussion, a different, more obscure issue will undoubtedly begin to garner more attention in the coming years due to this event. The recent enlargement means that the European Union now borders Moldova; a notoriously impoverished country. While mass immigration to Romania and possibly further into the EU is a possible scenario, it is another issue that merits special attention.
In the East of Moldova, bordering the Ukraine, lies an area called Transnistria (also know as Transdniestr, while the official name is Pridnestróvskaia Moldávskaia Respública, or Pridnestrovie in short). It is a sovereign region that sought to remain a part of the Soviet Union and declared independence on September 2, 1990. Internationally Transnistria is considered part of the Republic of Moldova, although de facto control is exercised by a local separatist administration.
Transnistria has a reputation for being a haven for criminal activity such as smuggling and trading weapons, women, drugs, and counterfeit goods. The European Parliament's delegation to Moldova has even named Transnistria "a black hole in which illegal trade in arms, the trafficking in human beings and the laundering of criminal finance was carried on."
Of the approximately 700,000 inhabitants of Transnistria, almost one seventh is also citizen of Russia. Moldovans, Russians and Ukrainians constitute approximately an equal percentage of the population (around 30% each), only complicating the situation even more. Prior to the Second World War, 8% of Transnistrians were Jewish, but this has dropped to below one fourth of a percent today.
Transnistria is a close ally of Russia and the main reason for the relatively cold relations between Chisinau (the capital of Moldova) and Moscow. It has also caused friction between Russia and the EU, whose views of the status of Transinstria are rather different. On September 17, 2006, a referendum was held in Transnistria. 97.2% voted in favor of 'continued' independence and a free association with Russia, while 95% voted against a possible reunification with Moldova (Tiraspol Times). Voter turnout was 78.6%. The referendum was recognized Russia, but not by the European Union.
Right at the border of Romania, in the south of Moldova, lies another autonomous region known as Gagauzia. The majority of people here are Gagauz; a Turkic people who are predominantly Christian. Fortunately this region is rather peaceful, with the autonomy-granting "Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia" passed by the Moldovan government on December 23, 1994, resolving peacefully the dispute that existed between Gagauzia and Moldova. Indeed, many European human-rights organizations recognize Gagauzia as a successful model for resolving ethnic conflict.
Such a resolution does not seem imminent in Transnistria however, meaning the EU will have to deal with the situation more proactively. This will have to include direct talks with Russia on the matter, which, being EU's main supplier of gas, automatically makes Europe weak kneed. The further East the EU goes, the closer it gets to mother Russia. Let's just hope that the increase in size that the EU gains by expanding eastward will also mean an increase in muscle. While the former Soviet states that are now in the EU were less tacitly influenced by Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is the territories that are now left between the EU and Russia where Russia's arm is still very strong today. Any move beyond the current EU borders will most certainly provoke a significant Russian response.
Reference
Tiraspol Times, http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/216
In the East of Moldova, bordering the Ukraine, lies an area called Transnistria (also know as Transdniestr, while the official name is Pridnestróvskaia Moldávskaia Respública, or Pridnestrovie in short). It is a sovereign region that sought to remain a part of the Soviet Union and declared independence on September 2, 1990. Internationally Transnistria is considered part of the Republic of Moldova, although de facto control is exercised by a local separatist administration.
Transnistria has a reputation for being a haven for criminal activity such as smuggling and trading weapons, women, drugs, and counterfeit goods. The European Parliament's delegation to Moldova has even named Transnistria "a black hole in which illegal trade in arms, the trafficking in human beings and the laundering of criminal finance was carried on."
Of the approximately 700,000 inhabitants of Transnistria, almost one seventh is also citizen of Russia. Moldovans, Russians and Ukrainians constitute approximately an equal percentage of the population (around 30% each), only complicating the situation even more. Prior to the Second World War, 8% of Transnistrians were Jewish, but this has dropped to below one fourth of a percent today.
Transnistria is a close ally of Russia and the main reason for the relatively cold relations between Chisinau (the capital of Moldova) and Moscow. It has also caused friction between Russia and the EU, whose views of the status of Transinstria are rather different. On September 17, 2006, a referendum was held in Transnistria. 97.2% voted in favor of 'continued' independence and a free association with Russia, while 95% voted against a possible reunification with Moldova (Tiraspol Times). Voter turnout was 78.6%. The referendum was recognized Russia, but not by the European Union.
Right at the border of Romania, in the south of Moldova, lies another autonomous region known as Gagauzia. The majority of people here are Gagauz; a Turkic people who are predominantly Christian. Fortunately this region is rather peaceful, with the autonomy-granting "Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia" passed by the Moldovan government on December 23, 1994, resolving peacefully the dispute that existed between Gagauzia and Moldova. Indeed, many European human-rights organizations recognize Gagauzia as a successful model for resolving ethnic conflict.
Such a resolution does not seem imminent in Transnistria however, meaning the EU will have to deal with the situation more proactively. This will have to include direct talks with Russia on the matter, which, being EU's main supplier of gas, automatically makes Europe weak kneed. The further East the EU goes, the closer it gets to mother Russia. Let's just hope that the increase in size that the EU gains by expanding eastward will also mean an increase in muscle. While the former Soviet states that are now in the EU were less tacitly influenced by Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is the territories that are now left between the EU and Russia where Russia's arm is still very strong today. Any move beyond the current EU borders will most certainly provoke a significant Russian response.
Reference
Tiraspol Times, http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/216
For an interesting take on the capital, Tiraspol, visit the following website: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/journeys/feature/tiraspol06.cfm
