European Journal # Series (1) Moldova -- Involuntary Nation-State # 04.02.3009

Our journey begins in Blindesti, a little village on the Moldava-Romania border. People here live in grinding poverty. They used to work as migrant labor in Romania, but since Romania joined the EU, they have needed visas. In the special economic zone Ungheni, at least there are a few companies. But pay is around 150 euros a month. Moldova's capital, Chisinau, displays unmistakeable traces of the Soviet past. The future is uncertain, and young people are leaving their country. Report by Veit-Ulrich Braun.