The Path to EU Candidacy: Moldova-EU Relations After the Fall of the Soviet Union

Abstract

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the newly independent Republic of Moldova has been undergoing a process of democratization and Europeanization. This paper investigates the close relationship between Moldova and the European Union after 1991 to demonstrate the steps the country had undertaken to become a candidate member in June 2022. We explore the history of creation of Moldova, particularly the shift from communism to liberal democracy. We then transition to trade as a facilitator of close diplomatic relations. Finally, we look into the obstacles to EU accession the country has yet to overcome: its conflict with the Transnistrian region, corruption, and the satisfaction of the Copenhagen Criteria. Even though the accession process was accelerated by the 2022 war in Ukraine, it is Moldova’s continuous efforts to bring its social, political, and economic standards closer to those of EU Member States that earned the country its candidacy.