Moldova slows its accession process to the European Union

There is not only the case of Ukraine to endanger the stability of Eastern Europe and the European Union's relations with Russia. Horizon looms also the case of Moldova, which is already at the center of a dispute for the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria, inhabited by a majority Russian population, which intends to break away from Chisinau to enter the orbit of Moscow, a case that presents strong similarities to the eastern territories of the country of Ukraine. In Moldova there is strong concern about the conflict that sees oppose Kiev to Moscow, for fear of repetition of the conflict on the Ukrainian territory. As a country belonging to the former Soviet Union, Moldova's fears appear justified by the expansionist ambitions of Putin in the country and the antidote can be identified in the European Union accession. This is the same thought expedient to Kiev and has started the conflict with Russia. For the moment the accession criteria in Brussels have not been satisfied from Chisinau, Moldova is a country with three and a half million inhabitants, mainly of Romanian language, which is still far from the entrance in the European Union for the presence of a high rate of corruption and reform the justice still insufficient; despite these shortcomings Brussels has praised the progress made by Moldova to the progress made in 2014 to achieve the levels of minimum standards to become part of the European Union. The interior looks very divided political landscape: the three parties-Europeans are no longer allies for mutual differences and the current government is supported by the parties democratic, liberal-democratic and communist. The latter are highly critical of the European integration process and in fact affect the government in a negative way by braking action of the government in this regard. The date of the application for membership had been previously scheduled for May, but currently there is no longer any assumptions. Officially recognized the need to appear before the European Union with a more effective implementation of the required reforms, in reality, the break taken by Chisinau seems to be justified by the fear of exacerbating the situation with Russia and, on the domestic front, with the breakaway republic of Transnistria and the southern region of Gagauzia, other territory where the majority uses the Russian language as the main language. Despite these factors, which constitutes an impediment to European integration, the economic condition of Moldova has set before the events of Ukraine, the main reason to join the European Union: the country, in fact, is one of the poorest on the continent, with a backward economy still mainly based on the agricultural sector and that, therefore, needs investment to modernize its manufacturing base. The entry into the European Union could ensure higher levels of development, while in Brussels allow Ukraine to move further, going to fill a large border area, which occupies the country, given its location nestled between Romania and, precisely Ukraine. Precisely in view of a possible entry of Kiev in the European Union, Brussels would have control of the territory up to the Russian border with the exception of Belarus. The goal is ambitious, even if Moldova may seem a membership of minor importance, the strategic reasons of its entry into the European Union are deemed important, not less, however, Brussels is willing to deviate from the required standards, which are also used as an element of caution in respect of the conduct of Russia. For the moment it appears convenient to both parties to slow down the process of integration for obvious reasons of convenience, but in the near future, both Brussels, Chisinau that undoubtedly will maintain their outreach.