Moldova’s Race to Join the EU | David Smith

<p>Moldova is racing towards European Union membership, but can it meet its ambitious 2030 goal, and will the EU be ready to welcome it? In this episode of the Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive, Adam Reichardt speaks with David Smith, Moldova expert and author of the Moldova Matters Substack, about the country’s rapidly changing political and security landscape.</p><p>They discuss the state of Moldova’s pro-European reforms, the challenges facing the government in Chișinău and whether Moldova and Ukraine will continue to move towards EU membership together. The conversation also looks at the renewed debate over unification with Romania. Is it simply a symbolic issue, or could union with Romania become a genuine “Plan B” if Moldova’s path towards EU membership stalls?</p><p>David also explains how Russia’s war against Ukraine is increasingly affecting Moldova directly, from drones crossing and crashing inside Moldovan territory to continued Russian disinformation and information warfare. Finally, the episode takes a closer look at Transnistria, where economic decline and growing dependence on the rest of Moldova are creating new possibilities for reintegration. Could Chișinău’s new strategy of “convergence” fundamentally change the future of the breakaway region?</p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 – Introduction<br />01:41 – Moldova’s political landscape one year after the elections04:29 – Government changes and Moldova’s reform agenda<br />08:37 – Can Moldova be ready for EU membership by 2030?<br />12:02 – Are Moldova and Ukraine still tied together on EU enlargement?<br />15:15 – Could Moldova unite with Romania?<br />20:40 – Russia’s war, drones and Moldova’s security<br />25:54 – Russian disinformation and information warfare<br />27:56 – What is happening in Transnistria?<br />30:42 – Moldova’s new “convergence” strategy</p><p>Follow David Smith and Moldova Matters for analysis ofMoldovan politics, economics and regional affairs: <a href="https://www.moldovamatters.md/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.moldovamatters.md/</a> </p><p>Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space.</p><p><strong>ABOUT THIS PODCAST</strong></p><p>We publish twice weekly:</p><p>· Every Tuesday: Expert Interviews featuring deep dives with leading analysts, journalists, and scholars</p><p>· Every Friday: Wee