Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe - Multiple Choices

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Construction of Borders and Practices of Labour Migration
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30
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Migration, Visas
and Borders in
the Context of EU
Enlargement:
the Case of the
Republic of
Moldova
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Daniela Gut‚u
Throughout history, borders have separated
nations, states and empires. At the same time
the course and character of a border can
determine the power and vitality
of those around it. This is especially true
in the case of Central and Eastern Europe and the
Commonwealth of Independent States, which have
experienced dramatic changes in their political geography
since 1990.
The Republic of Moldova is a prime example in
illustrating how borders can affect the very nature and condition
of a state. After obtaining independence in 1991, the
new state had to regulate its borders with the neighbouring
countries of Romania and Ukraine. The task was not simple
at all since an armed conflict burst out on the left bank of
the Nistru River in 1992, which led to the separation of
Transnistria.
Due to the separation of Transnistria, the
Republic of Moldova has today three and a half types of
borders. The first type of border is between Moldova and
Romania, the second type of border is between Moldova
and Ukraine. The third type is the Transnistrian sector
of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, which is beyond the
control of Moldovan authorities. The last type of border is
the line along the Nistru River that separates Moldova from
the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria. This border
is called a “half a border” since it is neither formal nor
external and the region of Transnistria is de jure part of
Moldova, but de facto independent as the Government has
no control over it.
MOLDOVA'S BORDERS
The western border with Romania is an important
one, not just for Moldova, but also for the entire region.
Formerly part of the Soviet Union's western border, this
is the only border of the Republic of Moldova, which used
to be an international border before 1991. Despite the
border's fifteen-year-long existence, Moldova and Romania
have not yet signed a border treaty.
•• Moldovan-Romanian border
Being part of the demarcation line between
Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS), the Moldovan-Romanian border
is increasingly seen as an important barrier against irregular
migration, smuggling and trafficking by the European
Union (EU). Assisted by the EU, Romania has invested a lot
in the modernisation of the Border Crossing Points (BCPs).
In the second half of the 2004, the two governments started
to develop concrete measures on establishing joint border
crossing points. However, the EU reports on border status
show that a lot of cooperation issues need to be improved,
such as the harmonisation of practices and a better
exchange of information between the border authorities of
these two countries. Despite the efforts to improve the
efficiency of the Moldovan-Romanian border, cases of
smuggling and illegal border crossings still occur.
Alongside these measures, tough visa policy and
regimes were introduced, in order to secure the future external
border of the EU. Thus, the Republic of Moldova has been
added to the European Union's “black list”, as a high-risk
emigration country; following this it became truly difficult to
get Schengen visas and to enter the territory of the EU.
The situation is even more difficult since not all
European countries have embassies placed in the capital
Chisinau. Currently, there are seventy six embassies accredited
in Moldova, of which only eleven are located in Chisinau
itself. Another problem is that Schengen visas have in practice
remained national visas that can only be obtained at
the embassy of the respective country. The German and the
French Embassies in Chisinau issue schengen visas only if
the destination is Germany or France, making these visas
unavailable for the rest of the Schengen territorry.
Therefore, to obtain “Schengen” visas for other countries,
one would have to travel to Bucharest, Kiev, Budapest,
Sophia, or Athens. To enter some of these countries
(Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece), a Moldovan citizen also needs
a standard visa. In cases like these, the mechanism of
obtaining visas could be described as a “visa for a visa”.
Migration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Unpacking the Diversity