Applications For Romanian Citizenship Soar

(RFE/RL) October 6, 2006 -- Romania says some 300,000 Moldovans have recently applied for Romanian citizenship, months ahead of the country's accession to the European Union.

Moldova was part of Romania until 1940, and more than 75 percent of its population of 4.1 million is of Romanian descent.


Some 100,000 Moldovans have obtained Romanian citizenship since Moldova declared independence in 1991 in the wake of the Soviet breakup.


Romania is set to join the European Union in January.


(AP)