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Relations between Moldova and the European Union (EU) are currently shaped via the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), an EU foreign policy instrument dealing with countries bordering its member states. Moldova has strong ties to EU member state Romania. Indeed, during the interbellum the two countries were united. They share a common language, traditions and culture. The Moldovan flag is a modified version of the Romanian equivalent, with the Moldovan arms superimposed in its centre. Despite Moldovan nationalist tendencies and a sizable Russophone minority, the Romanians, whilst having no ongoing claim to Moldovan territory ''per se'' see Moldovans as culturally and ethnically Romanian. The former period of union enables Romanian passports and concurrent EU citizenship to be routinely granted to Moldovans on the basis of descent. A proportion of Moldovans currently nominate themselves as Romanian. (see below) The Republic of Moldova actively pursues EU membership.〔〔( "Moldova will prove that it can and has chances to become EU member" ), Moldpress News Agency, 19 June 2007〕 The level of poverty in Moldova (the country is the poorest of potential EU members) is a stumbling block to accession. The Transnistrian dispute, a self-proclaimed breakaway republic backed by the Russian Federation government is also an obstacle. Nevertheless, the EU is developing an increasingly close relationship with Moldova, going beyond cooperation, to gradual economic integration and a deepening of political cooperation.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://eeas.europa.eu/moldova/index_en.htm )〕 The EU has opened an office in Chişinău (the Moldovan capital), and appointed on 23 March 2005, a special representative, Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, to Moldova to focus on the resolution of the crisis in Transnistria. The European Commission opened up a new office in Moldova on 6 October 2005 headed by Cesare de Montis. The major strategic priority of Moldova now is membership in European institutions.〔("Moldova and EU" ) on the official Moldova site〕 ==Agreements== Moldova is implementing its first three-year action plan within the framework of the ENP of the EU.〔(Moldova-EU Action Plan Approved by European Commission ), 14 December 2004, retrieved 2 July 2007〕 The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) represents the legal framework for the Republic of Moldova–European Union relationship. The Agreement was signed on 28 November 1994 and entered into force on 1 July 1998 for the next 10 years. This arrangement provides for a basis of cooperation with the EU in the political, commercial, economic, legal, cultural and scientific areas. The EU Moldova Action Plan is a political document laying out the strategic objectives of cooperation between Moldova and the EU.〔("EU-Moldova Action Plan" )〕 It covers a timeframe of three years. Its implementation will help fulfill the provisions in the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and will encourage and support Moldova’s objective of further integration into European economic and social structures. Implementation of the Action Plan will significantly advance the approximation of Moldovan legislation, norms and standards to those of the European Union. Moldova and the EU began negotiating an Association Agreement (AA), including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, to replace the PCA in January 2010.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=EU - Moldova Association Agreement )〕 The government of Moldova hoped to sign the AA in November 2013 at the Eastern Partnership summit, and in November 2012 EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle stated that negotiations could be completed by then. The AA was initialled at the summit, and signed on 27 June 2014. It must now be ratified by each state party to the treaty. The parliament of Moldova ratified the agreement on 2 July 2014. On 24 January 2011 Moldova officially received an "action plan" toward the establishment of a visa-free regime for short-stay travel from the EU's Internal Affairs Commissioner.〔("EU Gives Moldovans 'Action Plan' For Visa-Free Travel" ), ''Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty'' (24 January 2011)〕 In November 2013, the Commission proposed that visa requirements for short-term visits be abolished for Moldovan citizens holding biometric passports,〔()〕 with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius suggesting the change could take place in early 2014.〔("Lithuanian minister: EU, Moldova may shift to visa-free travel in early 2014" ), ''Kyiv Post''.〕 On 13 February 2014 the European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs Committee approved lifting the visa requirements, and the full parliament voted in favour on 27 February 2014. The European Parliament and Council gave their final consent to visa free travel for Moldovan citizens on 3 April 2014, and the change become applicable on 28 April 2014. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Moldova–European Union relations」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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