Programs director at the Foreign Policy Association Victoria Bucataru considers 2016 wasn’t one of the most favorable years for the Moldova-EU relations. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the expert said that owing to the banking crisis, the European and Euro-Atlantic partners lost confidence in the Republic of Moldova and this factor significantly affected the bilateral and multilateral relations, IPN reports.
“Namely last year, the budget disbursements were conditioned by the signing of the agreement with the IMF. This shows, first of all, the European partners’ lack of confidence and disappointment in the success story, which is how the Republic of Moldova was considered. However, the situation improved towards the end of the year, when the Government in Chisinau managed to negotiate an agreement with the IMF and the EU unlocked the budget support for the Republic of Moldova, as it had promised,” stated the programs director.
As to the presidential elections, Victoria Bucataru said the fact that the Moldovan citizens ultimately chose a pro-Russian President sends duplicitous messages abroad. On the one hand, the Republic of Moldova stated its wish to come closer to the EU. On the other hand, the citizens, in a rather larger number, voted for a person who intends to develop the relations with the Russian Federation, which is a fully different development model.
According to the expert, owing to this Igor Dodon will be an element that will lead to the stagnation of relations because the messages that he will continue to transmit will also be twofaced. Dodon will make effort to obtain Russia’s support for continuing his political line. On the other hand, he will try to maintain good relations with the EU, which is one of the main donors and providers of development aid.
“I consider that for the Republic of Moldova it is yet very important to choose one development path. Only this way will we manage to make headway with the reform agenda. We must decide once and for all what development model for the country we want – a democratic one or one with authoritarian tendencies,” stated Victoria Bucataru.
She also said that Moldova’s European course is irreversible and she now sees now other development model for the country.
