On 24 June, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies tacitly approved a bill providing for the possibility of a union between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The bill was tabled by the SOS România party.
- The Romanian Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill on unification with Moldova.
- The bill was tabled by the SOS România party on 14 April.
- The Romanian Government has been authorised to begin negotiations with Moldova.
- The document does not have final legal force unless it has been considered by the Senate.
- Chisinau is currently focusing on European integration.
A political signal from Romania
On 24 June, the Romanian Chamber of Deputies automatically approved a bill that paves the way for unification with the Republic of Moldova. This decision was taken following the expiry of the deadline for considering the document submitted by the SOS România party on 14 April. The chair of the sitting, Natalia Intotero, announced that, in accordance with parliamentary procedures, the document is deemed to have been approved.
The draft law contains provisions reaffirming Romania’s commitment to the principles of the OSCE’s Helsinki Final Act. The authors of the document emphasise that international law permits changes to state borders only by peaceful means and by mutual agreement between the parties. The text also includes a political declaration of intent regarding the unification of Romania and Moldova.
Next steps
A key aspect of the bill is that it grants the Romanian government the authority to begin negotiations with Chișinău. However, it is worth noting that this decision does not automatically trigger the unification process and is not legally binding. For the initiative to proceed further, the bill must be considered by the Romanian Senate, which will make the final decision.
Why it matters
The issue of the unification of Romania and Moldova is periodically raised in the political discourse of both countries. However, the authorities in Chișinău are currently focused on European integration and have not announced any intention to initiate the unification process. The Chamber of Deputies’ decision serves as a political signal, but does not imply any immediate changes to the status of the two states.
