Before the turn of the year, IPN looks back on the events that had the biggest impact in Moldova and asks the experts to comment on their immediate effects, as well on what we should expect of them in the long term.
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On April 28, 2014, Moldova obtained from the EU the liberalization of the visa regime. From that day on, Moldovan holders of biometric passports have been able to travel freely in the EU for up to 90 days in 6 months. The only exceptions are the United Kingdom and Ireland, which maintained their visa requirements.
Foreign affairs expert Lina Grau deems the liberalization of the visa regime one the year's biggest accomplishments. “It's a very positive thing for Moldova and I think that on the medium and long term, this will be the main factor determining the transformation of Moldovan society”, said Lina Grau.
According to her, direct contact between people, which is now possible just by grabbing your passport and traveling to a European country, will contribute the development of democracy in Moldova more than politics or other factors.
“Contacts between students or business people are now much easier. It's true that some were critical at the beginning, saying that those who wanted to travel had previously obtained Romanian citizenship and were already traveling. One one hand, it's true: this did diminish the short term benefits of the visa liberalization and people didn't feel that sudden impact. However, this criticism isn't consistent because many people have now switched to biometric passports and many parents have gone to visit their children settled in the EU. People who don't have the resources and energy to obtain Romanian citizenship can now travel only with their Moldovan passport”, stressed Lina Grau.
She recalled a recent discussion with some experts and journalists from Georgia, who were surprised that Moldova obtained the liberalized visa regime before Georgia, where society isn't as divided as in Moldova. “I don't think the decision regarding Moldova took into account the composition of society as much as the fulfillment of technical requirements. The political class had the will to do everything necessary to meet these requirements and the EU accepted to grant us this regime. From my point of view, Chisinau satisfied these requirements exemplarily”, opined Grau.
Of course, the geopolitical reasons can't be overlooked, says the expert. “The EU sent a signal of support by granting this regime. They wanted to show that the Eastern Partnerships brings real benefits to those who satisfy the requirements”, she said.
Lina Grau remarked that this accomplishment proved that if there is will, results follow. According to her, each of the governing parties thought the liberalized regime carried an electoral boost before the ballot and after it was obtained, each party tried to take credit for it.
The expert is unsure whether the government will manage to create a functional Cabinet or it will limp to early elections two years from now. Regardless of this, Lina Grau thinks that the most important thing for the country's European prospect is the fact that people will have direct access to Europe and its values, they will see the difference, will understand that the politicians aren't up to it and will start changing the political class in Moldova.
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Note: The other events to be recapped in this series are the signing of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, the Russian embargoes, the November 30 election and the formation of the parliamentary majority.
Mariana Galben, IPN
