5+2 format

{{Short description|Multilateral negotiation platform aimed at solving the Transnistria conflict}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

File:Moldova Transnistria locator.svg (green) and Transnistria (orange), the main parties of the Transnistria conflict]]

The 5+2 format,{{cite journal|url=https://cis01.ucv.ro/revistadestiintepolitice/files/revistadestiintepolitice35.pdf#page=381|title=Recent evolutions of the political environment in Transnistria|first=Liviu Ștefan|last=Râncioagă|journal=Revista de Științe Politice|issue=35|pages=381–392|year=2012}} also known as the 5+2 talks,{{cite web|url=https://pism.pl/publications/Renewal_of_Negotiations_on_Resolving_the_Transnistria_Conflict|title=Renewal of negotiations on resolving the Transnistria conflict|first=Jakub|last=Pieńkowski|publisher=Polish Institute of International Affairs|volume=125|issue=1066|pages=1–3|year=2017}} the 5+2 negotiations{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254321609|title=A resolvable frozen conflict? Designing a settlement for Transnistria|first=Stefan|last=Wolff|journal=Nationalities Papers|volume=39|issue=6|pages=863–870|year=2011|doi=10.1080/00905992.2011.617363|s2cid=110880296}} and the 5+2 process,{{cite news|url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Russia%20and%20Eurasia/170409moldova.pdf|title=Moldova's crisis: more than a local difficulty|first=Jame|last=Sherr|publisher=Chatham House|date=17 April 2009|pages=1–4}} is a diplomatic negotiation platform aimed at finding a solution to the Transnistria conflict between Moldova and the unrecognized state of Transnistria. It is composed of the latter two, which are designated as "parties to the conflict", and Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), "mediators" of the negotiations. The European Union (EU) and the United States act as "observers".{{cite news|url=https://jamestown.org/program/de-sovereignization-testing-a-conflict-resolution-model-at-moldovas-expense-in-transnistria-part-two/|title=De-sovereignization: testing a conflict-resolution model at Moldova's expense in Transnistria (part two)|first=Vladimir|last=Socor|newspaper=Jamestown Foundation|date=26 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://aei.pitt.edu/56457/1/pub_4257_transnistria_-_where_to.pdf|title=Transnistria – where to?|first=Paul|last=Ivan|publisher=European Policy Centre|date=13 March 2014|pages=1–4}} The inclusion of Romania into the 5+2 format has been proposed.{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/moldova/politica/sergiu-mocanu-nu-putem-vorbi-despre-unirea-romania-nu-putem-frontiera-nistru-1_60a6018c5163ec42713c06ab/index.html|title=Sergiu Mocanu: Nu putem vorbi despre unirea cu România până nu putem frontieră pe Nistru|first=Iurii|last=Botnarenco|newspaper=Adevărul|date=20 May 2021|language=ro}}

The 5+2 format started in 2005, but due to the notice sent by Ukraine to the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) regarding the great amount of Transnistrian smuggling on Ukrainian territory, Transnistria and Russia suspended formal negotiations in 2006, with them only being formally resumed in 2012.{{cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293154214|title=The futility of the negotiations on Transnistria|first=Liliana|last=Popescu|journal=European Journal of Science and Theology|volume=9|issue=2|pages=115–126|year=2013}}

In June 2016, through 5+2 format negotiations, eight points to work on during negotiations were agreed upon between Moldova and Transnistria, these points being collectively known as the Berlin Plus package. By April 2018, six of these points had been implemented, after which negotiations stalled due to domestic and global changes.{{cite journal|url=http://www.viitorul.org/files/IDIS_Bulletin%20Power%20Politics%20Policy%20No%2016%20EN.pdf|title=The subject of neutral license plates – old issues and new perspectives of the Transnistrian dispute|first=Ion|last=Tăbârță|journal=Bulletin. Power, Politics & Policy|volume=16|publisher=Institute for Development and Social Initiatives "Viitorul"|pages=1–9|year=2021}}

In 2022, 5+2 format negotiations were rendered impossible as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as both Russia and Ukraine are members of the format.{{cite news|url=https://timpul.md/articol/krasnoselski-se-plange-iarasi-pe-moldova-criza-energetica-a-racit-relatiile.html|title=Krasnoselski se plânge iarăși pe Moldova: Criza energetică a răcit relațiile|newspaper=Timpul de dimineață|date=18 November 2022|language=ro}}