Moldova could consider reunification with Romania if its path towards European Union membership becomes blocked after 2028, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalisation Eugen Osmochescu said in an interview with Euractiv.

The remarks are one of the clearest acknowledgements by a senior Moldovan official that unification with Romania is being discussed as a potential long-term alternative should the country's EU accession ambitions fail to advance.

Osmochescu described the scenario as a “Plan B”, while stressing that Moldova’s primary objective remains unchanged: securing an EU accession treaty as quickly as possible.

“This is Plan B,” he told Euractiv when asked about the possibility of reunification.

The deputy prime minister said such an option would only be considered if Moldova’s accession process reached an impasse after 2028. He emphasised that the government’s current focus is on opening accession negotiation chapters and advancing alignment with EU legislation.

President Maia Sandu has also raised the issue of relations with Romania more prominently in public discussions this year, amid growing concerns over Russian influence operations targeting Moldova.

Asked whether reunification could alter Moldova’s identity, Osmochescu argued that the two countries already share deep cultural and family ties. He also noted that a significant number of Moldovan citizens hold Romanian citizenship.

The official linked the urgency of Moldova’s European integration efforts to domestic political considerations and what he described as increasing Russian hybrid pressure.

Asked whether Moldova risks being slowed by the EU's decision to advance its accession process alongside Ukraine’s, Osmochescu said enlargement should remain merit-based but warned that Chisinau needs tangible progress from Brussels.

“We need to send a signal to the population,” he said, referring to efforts to maintain public support for European integration.

According to Osmochescu, opening the first cluster of accession negotiations would provide such a signal.

“If it happens in June, that is, if we open negotiations, then this would be a clear signal. This is our objective,” he said.

The deputy prime minister also expressed support for proposals for gradual integration of candidate countries into EU institutions before full membership. Referring to ideas recently advanced by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Osmochescu said an intermediate status such as “associate member” could allow candidate countries to participate in meetings of EU leaders and ministers without voting rights.

He argued that any mechanism bringing Moldova closer to EU institutions would help sustain reform momentum and reassure voters about the country's European trajectory.