Germany and Romania want to do more to help the Republic of Moldova arm itself against Russian attempts at destabilization. “Moldova can be sure of our solidarity,” said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Monday after a meeting with Romanian President Klaus Johannis and Moldovan Head of State Maia Sandu in Bucharest. Scholz also promised the country support on its way to the European Union. “Moldova is part of our European family,” he explained.
The Chancellor continued to read the reports of Russian attempts to destabilize the country with concern. In the face of Russian imperialism its “cohesion and solidarity are the order of the day”. Moldova can rely on its “honest friends,” affirmed Johannis. Sandu thanked for the support that helps her country “to ensure peace and a future in the EU”. The Republic of Moldova has been an EU accession candidate since 2022.
“The pressure is still very strong,” Sandu said of the influence from Russia. However, Moldova will remain a “defender of freedom and human dignity”. With massive financial help from the EU, bitterly poor Moldova has so far been able to overcome an energy crisis caused by reduced gas supplies from Russia. “Your support has shown us that we are not alone,” explained Sandu.
The situation in the Republic of Moldova has once again deteriorated
For the small Republic of Moldova, an already precarious situation has drastically worsened since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Measured against the number of inhabitants, Moldova has taken in the highest number of refugees per capita from the neighboring country. The pro-Western government is also facing a wave of protests financed by oligarchs, which is seen as part of Russian attempts at destabilization.
“We believe that Moldova deserves our support to stay on our side, on Europe’s side,” stressed Johannis. The joint meeting with the Moldovan President was “much more than a symbol,” explained Scholz. It is “an expression of an already existing, very practical partnership”. In particular, further help with Moldova’s energy supply is important.
Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Moldova has been seen as a potential next target for Russian violence. Russian soldiers are stationed in the breakaway part of Transnistria; the area is already largely controlled by Moscow. At the beginning of June, Moldova will host the second summit of the European Political Community initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron.
War Neighbors: Romania and Moldova
(Photo: SZ map: jje/Mapcreator.io/OSM)
In a conversation with Johannis before the three-way meeting in Bucharest, Scholz reiterated his support for Romania’s early admission to the Schengen area, which allows travel in Europe without border controls. “I very much support Romania’s accession to Schengen. I also hope that this will happen this year,” said Scholz. Romania has “fulfilled all the requirements for Schengen accession to take place now”. This applies both to the border regime and to the fight against corruption. The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area failed in December due to Austria’s resistance.
With his clear support, Scholz set the tone for a one-day visit to the EU country, which is primarily intended to express appreciation for the reforms in the country, Romania’s stabilizing role in the region and the clear stance on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The visit to Bucharest was considered an important sign because it was the first visit by a Federal Chancellor to Bucharest since 2010.
President Johannis spoke of a “genuinely strategic character” in German-Romanian relations and thanked Scholz for supporting Schengen accession. His country applied for this twelve years ago and met all the conditions. The “reluctance” of some EU states is due to doubts about Romania’s rule of law, which were dispelled last year. Austria’s concerns about illegal migration from Romania are also unfounded.
Both Scholz and Johannis emphasized continued support for Ukraine, which had been invaded by Russia. Romania acts as an important hub for humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. Scholz only responded in general terms to questions about the maintenance and logistics center for tanks, howitzers and military vehicles announced by the armaments group Rheinmetall. The cooperation to support Ukraine is “very, very intensive”. It is also about ensuring the operational readiness of the equipment made available to Ukraine.