| Romanian officials have reported a surge in recent months in the number of Moldovans applying for Romanian citizenship. By some estimates, up to 800,000 Moldovans have now begun that process. Given a total Moldovan population of only around 3.2m (excluding the region of Transdniestr), this is a worrisome trend—particularly as an estimated 600,000 Moldovans already work abroad. Fears that Moldova could just empty out nevertheless overstate the case: many Moldovans merely see dual citizenship as an insurance policy or as a guarantee of hassle-free travel. The willingness of Moldovans to seek Romanian citizenship en masse is at least partly explained by their country's extremely close cultural and linguistic ties with its larger western neighbour. According to a recent opinion poll, a feeling of "being Romanian" motivates less than 15% of those seeking dual citizenship. Instead, the vast majority of passport seekers are merely expanding their options in the face of poor economic prospects at home. For them, Romania—which is now an EU member, albeit the poorest one—offers far greater hope. It is still unclear how many applications are now in the works. Although some estimates suggest that a total of up to 700,000-800,000 Moldovans have applied for Romanian passports, a recent opinion poll suggests only half that number. The same poll nevertheless also reveals that almost half of all Moldovans are planning to seek Romanian citizenship.
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