On the one hand, the essence of any integration/reintegration policies is to find the most acceptable and beneficial for both sides model of interaction, including economic.
On the other hand, even in Moldova there is still no unified position on whether the country will join the EU “in whole” or “in parts”. Brussels also says that Transnistria should not become an obstacle for Moldova’s European course.
Hence the chaotic actions aimed, in the opinion of the authorities, at involving, first of all, the left-bank business in the legal field of Moldova, and hence in the processes of European integration. As a result, expansion of the “zone” of misunderstanding and distrust between the banks and inhibition of positive interaction processes.
Convergence without docking
For example, in Moldova they talk about the need to reindustrialize the country: the share of industry in the GDP structure has decreased from 40% in the early 1990s to 10% by the end of 2025. Entire industries – machine building, electronics, and a significant part of chemical production – have practically disappeared.
Due to the known reasons and circumstances, the left bank managed to preserve large industrial enterprises. As a result, until recently the share of industrial production in GDP was kept at the level of 30%.
Attempts/actions on “accelerated” reintegration (reintegration through restrictions) of the country lead in reality to deepening of its disintegration.
The unified transportation and telecommunication infrastructure has disappeared.
The unified gas transportation system and electricity supply system of the country are in danger of disappearing.
The consequences of this situation are rapidly manifesting themselves in the decline in business activity and the aggravation of social problems on both banks of the Dniester.
At the same time, it is the production infrastructure that is the measure of both the level of economic development achieved and, even more importantly, its readiness to accept new investments, production and technologies.
The infrastructure projects being implemented in Moldova today, as if strengthening the European conjugation of the country, in reality lead to a “bypass” of the left bank and, as a consequence, to the rejection of the very idea of compromise solutions to the accumulated problems.
Without a common denominator
Today, Chisinau plans to start collecting excise duties and VAT on goods imported to Transnistria in order to subsequently channel the funds received for development projects on the left bank (through the convergence fund being created).
Tiraspol responds by creating the “Together” fund, to which it collects donations from businesses and citizens in order to preserve the budget’s ability to fulfill basic social obligations (payment of salaries and pensions).
This only proves once again that there is no common denominator that the parties have not been able to reach. And declaratively, the goal remains the same – to ensure the well-being of ordinary residents of the left bank.
The fact that with the introduction of regional development policies in the mid-2000s, Transnistria was also defined as a separate development region is completely forgotten. But the process did not go beyond formalities.
Chisinau, through the creation of a convergence fund, intends to implement the very regional development in Transnistria, but without an established dialog, the initiative is unlikely to be successful. And by putting additional pressure on Transnistrian enterprises, the very essence is lost – the vision of Moldova as a complex, but nevertheless unified region of development.
Now Chisinau officially sets two objectives for itself – to ensure accession to the EU by 2030, and to include Transnistria in the common tax space by 2030.
These are two complementary, from Chisinau’s point of view, goals, which are still considered exclusively in parallel, which does not contribute to the fulfillment of either the first or the second one.
It is important that the opinion and position, including that of economic agents from the Left Bank, are not heard on the right bank.
Dmitri Tereburke, expert in real estate development and evaluation
Galina Shelar, economist
