CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 03/2023

LE MONDE MOLDOVA
The world with us and our place in the world
From left: Panorama of Chisinau and kayaking
on the rivers - Moldova is full of contrasts.
FACTS &
FIGURES
PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK, CHUMASH MAXIM, ANTRIM, INVESTMENT AGENCY
In the midst of challenging geopolitical circumstances, the Republic of Moldova is
resolutely charting its course towards EU integration. The year 2024 is set to be a
pivotal juncture.
Text: Bernhard Ecker
When Mihaela Mocanu scans the QR code
on the label of a bottle of Totem wine with
her smartphone, she bursts with pride. Instantly,
a short video about the legend behind this
Moldovan wine brand appears on her screen. For the
ambassador of the small republic, this is akin to evidence
that the products of her country, along with
their presentation, can indeed capture the admiration
of the Western world. “We share many similarities,”
she remarks in reference to Austria’s wine culture,
“and we also have many differences – which forms the
foundation for economic cooperation.”
In a situation like the current one, spreading optimism
is almost an art in itself. The Republic of Moldova,
with its population of 2.5 million, has been alternating
with Kosovo as the poorest country in
Europe for years. The country is shrinking as many
people have left in the past decades. Moreover, it now
finds itself in distressingly close proximity to a war,
the repercussions of which it will experience more
directly than nearly all other European countries.
With Transnistria, an autonomous self-proclaimed
republic de facto under Moscow’s influence, lying to
the east of the Dniester River, the “frozen” conflict
makes it practically impossible to fully unleash its
economic potential.
However, there are also compelling reasons for
hope. On 1 June, President Maia Sandu welcomed 45
heads of state and government, as well as EU leaders,
to the European-Political-Community (EPC) Summit
at Schloss Mimi near the town of Bulboaca. Even
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky personally
attended. It was a resounding signal to the world that
the Republic of Moldova remains steadfast in its western
course, and a powerful signal from the world to
Moldova that this direction is supported. With the
beginning of 2024, the determined president hopes to
initiate negotiations for her country’s EU accession.
Eastern Europe experts suggest that this unity
could be game-changing: The West is, unlike in the
cases of Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina, aligned
in its visions for Moldova’s future. This bolstering of
positive forces within the country is notable. “Half of
the population exhibits an almost euphoric sentiment
towards the EU,” says Gunther Zimmer, Head
of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) office
in Chișinău. He adds, “The other half is somewhat
lethargic, but in my estimation, they are more Soviet
Union nostalgists than Putin sympathisers.” Currently,
the percentage of people sceptical towards the
West in opinion polls stands at around 30 percent.
For the ADA, the Republic of Moldova is a focal
country. They are engaged in a total of 14 projects,
with a focus on water supply and treatment, as well
as women’s empowerment and educational programmes.
Furthermore, resources are allocated to
the Moldovan population that demonstrated great
compassion during the refugee crisis, often pushing
themselves to the brink of existence. This support extends
to programmes such as aiding small farmers
who were unable to procure fertilizers or seeds from
Ukraine, to purchase seeds. This initiative is carried
out in collaboration with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the UN (FAO).
Assisting in mitigating the consequences of war is
crucial to maintaining the country’s connection to
the West. In 2022, inflation soared to nearly 30 percent
due to the escalating gas prices. At the peak,
Moldova’s compassionate residents hosted 115,000
refugees from Ukraine; currently, the number stands
at 75,000. Amidst all these challenges, projects like
those undertaken by the ADA play a vital role in preserving
confidence in the country’s progress.
Ultimately, the key question revolves around whether
the numerous Moldovans abroad will one day return
to contribute their expertise to the economy and
society. As an intermediate goal, Ambassador Mocanu
suggests that keeping the young generation within the
country is crucial (see interview on page xy).
Businesses can only thrive with skilled professionals.
“The worker shortage is one of the most pressing
issues,” shares Paul Swoboda, board member of
the Graz-based insurance conglomerate Grawe. He
explains, “There’s a lot of fluctuation because many
people are leaving the country. This also has to do
Moldova
Official name:
Republic of Moldova
Form of government: Unitary
parliamentary republic with a
single legislative house
Population: 2.5 million
Capital: Chișinău
Area: 33,846 km 2
Official language: Romanian, also
Bulgarian, Gagauz, Russian,
Ukrainian
Currency: Moldovan leu
Ethnic groups:
Moldovians 75%, Romanians 7%,
Ukrainians 7%, Gagauz 5%,
Russians 4%, Bulgarians 2%
GDP per capita: 4,468 USD
Also at night Chișinău can be a
stunning beauty.
The triumphal arch, built in
1840, right opposite the
Government House.
Game of Rivers: The national
parks in the Republic of
Moldova are both
poetic and strong.
National Museum of
Archaeology and History of
Moldova (right).
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