Polska a Mołdawia i Naddniestrze (Poland's Relations with Moldova and Transnistria)

Polish-Moldovan relations developed slowly in 1990s and have intensified since the mid-2000s. There have been three main catalyzing events: 1. Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004; 2. the announcement of the Eastern Partnership initiative by Poland and Sweden in 2008; 3. the coming to power in Moldova of the Alliance for European Integration in 2009. The political and economic transition of Moldova, as well as its European aspirations formed the core element of Polish-Moldovan relations. Despite the fact bilateral relations are friendly and have reached the highest level since their establishment in 1992, form seems to have triumphed over substance. There is an opportunity for further development of bilateral cooperation in the future. Poland has supported the territorial integrity of Moldova since its independence and does not recognize its breakaway republic – Transnistria. This is the reason why Warsaw maintains virtually no political relations with separatist authorities. However, economic cooperation between Poland and Transnistria is quite strong. Currently, Warsaw is indirectly involved in the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, but there are reasons for more direct and deeper Polish engagement