How Hungary Indirectly Hurts Romania Through Moldova: Bucharest's Negotiation Ace

Hungary's current stance on blocking Ukraine's European Union integration is indirectly impacting Romania by stalling Moldova's own accession process, according to political scientist Ana Maria Albulescu from the University of Tartu. Moldova's EU path is closely linked to Ukraine's, creating a package deal that Budapest is currently holding up.

Albulescu suggests that Romania's most effective strategy is to act as a strong lobbyist within the EU for Moldova's interests. While Romania has provided significant declarative and financial support, its influence as an EU member state is its most potent tool. She noted that the timeline for both Ukraine and Moldova's integration remains uncertain, especially for Ukraine, given the ongoing conflict.

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I think Romania is doing quite a lot for the Republic of Moldova, from the declarative level to the economic-financial level of support. And I think, clearly, that we could be a lobbyist actor in the European Union is the best thing Romania can do for the Republic of Moldova.

There is a possibility that Ukraine might receive a different, perhaps partial, status due to the protracted war, while Moldova could potentially see a quicker integration process. This divergence in potential outcomes highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.

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I clearly do not think it is about exchanges. I think what could be done at this moment is to benefit from the fact that Hungary has a new leader, just as Romania has a relatively new leader. And I think resetting Romanian-Hungarian relations would be desirable.

Regarding potential solutions for Romania to influence Hungary, Albulescu dismissed the idea of direct exchanges or "swaps." Instead, she proposed that Romania should capitalize on the leadership changes in both countries to reset bilateral relations. This reset is crucial not only for Moldova's aspirations but also for Romania's broader interests.

However, Romania's ability to pursue a coherent foreign policy is currently hampered by political instability, including an ongoing struggle to form a stable government. This internal challenge complicates its efforts to effectively negotiate with Hungary and advance its foreign policy objectives, particularly concerning Moldova's EU accession.

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Now, if we are to talk about Romania a bit and how it could negotiate with Hungary for the Republic of Moldova, I would say that in the situation where we do not yet have a stable government and we are actually in the situation with this government that no longer passes Parliament, it is very difficult to have a coherent foreign policy.