“The Memorandum on the creation of the Associated Trio by Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova within the Eastern Partnership is very good as an initiative and these states should coordinate their actions so as to advance the dialogue with the European Union. We must admit that when the Eastern Partnership was initiated, the EU placed these countries together primarily according to their geographical position and to the fact that they formed part of the USSR. We must realize that these states undertook particular commitments and they should fulfill these commitments so as to make progress in the dialogue with the EU. But we don’t do this,” Ion Tăbârță, political analyst, expert in international relations, said in IPN’s public debate “Associated Trio” of Eastern Partnership: necessity, obstacles and challenges for Moldova”.
Ion Tăbârță noted that initiatives initially came from the EU and Moldova tried to translate these ideas and the way in which the EU considers a state should function. Moldova wants to advance the dialogue with the EU, but didn’t do essential homework deriving from the Association Agreement with the EU. When the EU saw that the Government of the Republic of Moldova only hoisted the flag of the European Union, but does not ensure essential Europeanization, it tried to look for alternative players, such as civil society and the local authorities.
The expert noted it is evident that Ukraine tries to undertake the key role in the advancement of the dialogue with the EU, but also tries to combine forces with Moldova and Georgia so as to transmit particular geopolitical messages to the EU and also to Russia. “Unlike Georgia and Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova does not have the NATO subject on the public agenda. The EU wants these states to make progress in doing the reforms undertaken by the Association Agreements,” said Ion Tăbârță, noting that to be able to advance, the three countries should ensure a conjuncture of factors, such as favorable geopolitical factors and pro-European governments, while the EU should change one of its approaches and should not permanently say “no”.
According to the political analyst, Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, to be able to ask more from the EU, should make commitments to the EU. “If society wants a European and pro-Euro-Atlantic course, the political class, including in the Republic of Moldova, should not show so many post-Soviet reflexes with all their bad sides and with this oligarchic component that is deep-rooted in government. Therefore, the dialogue to promote the European agenda stagnates,” said Ion Tăbârță.
The public debate “Associated Trio” of Eastern Partnership: necessity, obstacles and challenges for Moldova” is the 188th installment of the project “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” that is implemented by IPN with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
