Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24th 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an official request for his country to join the European Union “without delay” via “a special procedure”. This candidacy was followed by those of Georgia and Moldova on March 3rd 2022. The war in Ukraine has raised concerns in these two former Soviet republics, which fear they may be Moscow’s next targets. Moldova in particular, Ukraine’s most fragile neighboring country, which has faced numerous security and socio-economic challenges since the start of the war, wishes to accelerate the process of European integration launched with the creation of Eastern Partnership. The aim of the round table is to touch upon the implications of the changing regional security environment for Moldova, but also to debate upon the future of the relations between the EU and Moldova.

We will discuss these topics, focusing on the following issues:

1. What are the prospects for EU membership following the official request submitted by Moldova on March 3rd 2022? What are the opportunities and challenges that the country is facing in the EU accession process? What can be the EU’s response to this country?

2. The war in Ukraine has revealed several peculiarities of Moldova, linked to the existence of an unresolved separatist conflict, to the European orientation of Moldova notwithstanding a strong Russian influence and to its neutral country status inscribed in the Constitution. How can these peculiarities affect the fragile balance of Moldovan society?

3. Following Russia’s war in Ukraine, Moldova is facing a number of important social and economic challenges, in addition to the security risks. How to face these challenges while strengthening Moldova’s energy security and socio-economic resilience? What role can the EU play in this process?

Date: 15 June 2022, 10:00 (Warsaw time)

Format: hybrid round table involving a mixture of in-person (CCFEF library, Dobra 55) and remote attendees (Zoom).

Registration by email on: antonevici.olga@gmail.com

Agenda

10:00 Brief introduction

Olga Antonevici, OKF UW

Nicolas Maslowski, Director OKF UW

10:10-11:40

Panel 1. Moldova’s quest for EU membership: political and legal implications 

• The formal application to join the EU – an important step in Moldova’s European integration process
• The importance of strong democratic institutions, legal reforms and fight against corruption
• Opportunities and challenges in the process of European integration

Panelists:

HE Igor Bodiu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Poland

HE Bartłomiej Zdaniuk, political scientist, UW, former Ambassador of Poland to the Republic of Moldova, doctor honoris causa of the State University of Moldova

Iulian Groza, Executive Director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms

Florent Parmentier, Secretary General of CEVIPOF, Sciences Po Paris

Moderator: Nicolas Maslowski

11:40-12:00

Coffee break

12:00-13:30

Panel 2. The implications of the changing security environment on Moldova’s European aspirations 

• The war in Ukraine and its consequences for Moldova
• Transnistria and security challenges
• The energy crisis and its implications for Moldova
• EU’s role in strengthening defense capacities and socio-economic resilience of Moldova

Panelists:

Elena Marzac Executive Director of the Centre for Information on NATO in Moldova (Moderator)

Alexandru Flenchea, former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of Moldova

Kamil Zajączkowski, Director of the Center for Europe, UW

Andrzej Szeptycki, Professor UW