Soviet tank located in the centre of Tiraspol, Transnistrian region Photo source: Cornelia Cozonac/ personal archive November 2025 Will Moldova’s accession to the EU pass through Tiraspol— or not? Topics of the edition: 1- Cristina Lesnic, Former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration: The structures in the Transnistrian region depend to a large extent on the impetus – the catalyst – coming from the Russian Federation 2- Alexandru Flenchea, Former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration: The citizens of the Transnistrian region also wish to join the European Union, just like most of those living on the right bank of the Nistru River 3- Anatolie Golea, journalist, TV8: European integration versus the reintegration of the Republic of Moldova 4- Evgheni Ceban, journalist, Newsmaker.md: What should we do about Transnistria on the road to the EU? T he reintegration of the Transnistrian region, in parallel with the process of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, remains a topic insufficiently present on the public agenda or in discussions related to this complex issue. The region on the left bank of the Nistru remains under the control of a separatist regime loyal to Moscow, whose actions often run counter to the interests of Chisinau — which seeks a gradual and peaceful resolution to a conflict that has lasted for more than three decades. Opinions differ regarding the most appropriate approach that the Moldovan authorities and their external partners should take in order to advance toward resolving this difficult issue. What is certain, however, is that throughout the process, the interests of citizens on both sides of the Nistru River must come first, in order to identify the most balanced solution— especially in the event that the Russian Federation either loses its current leverage over the region or attempts to provoke new crises that it could later exploit politically to the detriment of Chisinau. A transparent, realistic, and courageous approach is needed to define a possible precedent for resolving the so-called “frozen conflicts” around the Black Sea— conflicts created in, and maintained for, Moscow’s interests in several states across the region. These conflicts have been deliberately sustained so that the Kremlin can indirectly control, through proxy regimes, the internal and external policies of states seeking to move out of Russia’s orbit and closer to the Euro-Atlantic community. Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung offer you a newsletter on foreign policy and European integration issues of the Republic of Moldova. The newsletter is part of the“Foreign Policy Dialogue” joint Project. Monthly newsletter, No.11(237), November 2025 1