The presence of the Transnistrian conflict is a problem on the path of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, this issue will have to be resolved at the talks, said the head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau, Janis Mazheiks.
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“Of course, this will not make the path easier. This is one of the problems that clearly exists. But I believe that Moldova has a good starting point, because the topic of Transnistria from a practical point of view is part of European integration,” Mazeix said, answering a question , whether the Transnistrian conflict can interfere with the European integration of the republic.
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He noted that the Transnistrian region is already partially following the path of reintegration, if only because it takes advantage of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with Moldova. According to him, two thirds of Pridnestrovian exports go to the markets of the EU countries.
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Mazejks notes that the issue of settling the Transnistrian conflict will certainly be raised when negotiations on Moldova’s accession to the EU begin.
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In March last year, Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed an application for the republic’s accession to the European Union, noting that the process of European integration must be accelerated. The heads of state and government of the European Union at the summit in Brussels on June 23 approved granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates for joining the union. The European Commission put forward nine conditions for Moldova to fulfill in order to join the EU.
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Earlier, Ukraine temporarily suspended the activities of military observers in the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester. The work of the “5 + 2” format was also suspended due to the conflict of mediators represented by the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
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Transnistria, 60% of whose inhabitants are Russians and Ukrainians, sought secession from Moldova even before the collapse of the USSR, fearing that on the wave of nationalism, Moldova would join Romania. In 1992, after a failed attempt by the Moldovan authorities to solve the problem by force, Transnistria became virtually a territory not controlled by Chisinau.
