EditMoldova’s EU integration path: a plan to reintegrate Transnistria amid critical elections
The success of the plan to integrate the breakaway region hinges on the 28 September elections
In an exclusive interview with European Pravda during a visit to Kyiv, Moldovan MP Ina Coşeru, head of the parliamentary committee on international relations and European integration, outlined Moldova’s ambitious goal of EU accession by 2028 and revealed a government plan to reintegrate the breakaway region of Transnistria.
Representing the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), Coşeru, who is not running for re-election in the pivotal 28 September parliamentary elections, spoke candidly about the challenges and opportunities ahead. While she addressed Moldova’s EU trajectory and its alignment with Ukraine, her remarks on Transnistria – a Russian-backed separatist region – offer fresh insight into a long-standing issue critical to Moldova’s sovereignty and EU aspirations.
Transnistria: a shifting landscape
“Transnistria is a very difficult issue for Moldova,” Coşeru admitted, but she expressed optimism, stating, “We see light at the end of the tunnel.” The region, a narrow strip along Moldova’s eastern border with a population of 200,000–300,000, has operated as a de facto state since the early 1990s, propped up by Russian military presence and economic support.
Recent geopolitical shifts, particularly Russia’s inability to supply gas through Ukraine due to the ongoing war, have destabilized Transnistria’s economy.
“The budget of Transnistria, which allowed the administration of this region to exist, was formed from several main sources, and the key source was income from the sale of electricity to Moldova, produced from ‘free’ Russian gas,” Coşeru explained. With this revenue stream cut off, Transnistria now relies on gas supplied through agreements with Moldovan authorities, making it increasingly dependent on Chișinău.
This shift has prompted Moldova to develop a concrete strategy for reintegration. “We have already prepared a plan on how to integrate this region, how to start paying salaries there, and they know about this plan,” Coşeru revealed, referring to the government’s “Plan for the Reintegration of the Transnistrian Region.”
The plan, still under discussion, aims to bring Transnistria back under Moldovan control by addressing economic and administrative integration. However, Coşeru acknowledged the high costs involved: “We understand that the reintegration of Transnistria into Moldova will be very expensive, so we need to calculate these costs and understand where we will get all this money from.” European partners are expected to provide financial and technical support, as resolving the Transnistrian conflict is seen as a prerequisite for Moldova’s EU membership.
“The Europeans will support us in these efforts, because they would like to resolve this problem before the decision is made on Moldova becoming a new member of the EU,” she noted.
EU accession and Transnistria’s role
Coşeru emphasized that resolving the Transnistrian issue is integral to Moldova’s EU aspirations, though no formal EU condition mandates reintegration before accession.
“I am convinced that the European Union does not need a new member with a frozen conflict,” she said, expressing her personal view that Moldova must address Transnistria beforehand.
The region’s reintegration poses logistical and financial challenges, including investments in infrastructure and economic support for residents. Yet, Coşeru sees it as feasible due to Transnistria’s small size and the EU’s willingness to assist.
“It is realistic to do it. And it can be done very quickly,” she asserted, provided the pro-European PAS retains power in the upcoming elections.
Moldova’s energy dependence on Transnistria complicates matters. The Soviet-era electrical grid routes power through Transnistria, giving it leverage to disrupt Moldova’s supply. Coşeru highlighted progress in reducing this dependency: “We are building the Vulcanesti-Chișinău interconnector to get rid of this dependence, and the first line will be built this year.”
This infrastructure project, combined with Transnistria’s economic vulnerability, strengthens Moldova’s position in reintegration talks.
The critical 28 September elections
The parliamentary elections on 28 September are a make-or-break moment for Moldova’s EU path and Transnistrian reintegration. A pro-European majority, led by PAS, is essential for maintaining momentum toward 2028 EU accession and implementing the reintegration plan.
“If everything goes well in the elections on 28 September, changes in the Transnistrian region will happen very quickly,” Coşeru predicted. However, a victory for pro-Russian forces could derail both objectives, as she warned: “If the election result is different, it looks very scary to me.”
The elections are particularly vulnerable to Russian interference, with Coşeru citing past examples like the 2023 Gagauzia elections, where Kremlin-linked funds supported Evghenia Guțul, now convicted for using undeclared Russian money.
Challenges and Russian influence
The “only obstacle” to reintegration, Coşeru noted, is “the Russian presence” in Transnistria, where 1,500 Russian troops remain stationed. Russia’s weakened regional influence due to its war in Ukraine offers Moldova an opportunity, but Kremlin-backed actors like Ilan Shor, an exiled oligarch, continue to destabilise Moldovan politics through voter-buying schemes.
Coşeru stressed that judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures are critical to countering such interference, ensuring fair elections and advancing EU-mandated democratic standards.
Coşeru’s revelations about Moldova’s Transnistrian reintegration plan mark a significant step toward resolving a decades-old conflict, driven by shifting energy dynamics and EU support. The success of this plan, and Moldova’s broader EU ambitions, hinges on the 28 September elections. A PAS victory could accelerate reintegration and EU integration, while a pro-Russian outcome risks stalling both.
A longer version of this interview in Ukrainian can be found here. Sergiy Sydorenko is the chief editor of European Pravda, a EUalive partner publication.
Caption: A photo of Ina Coşeru from her Facebook profile.
Updated: August 31, 2025 - 07:38
