“The European Union and Moldova should meet at the negotiating table and should review their understandings and agree a clear European perspective for Moldova,” editor-in-chief of the economic publication “Logos-press” Dmitry Kalak stated in IPN’s public debate “European integration during the pandemic: new possibilities or stagnation?”.
He noted the current relations between the EU and Moldova are not fully honest. “We have the DCFTA. Has someone heard about this agreement earlier? It didn’t exist earlier. There is the Customs Union that regulates the free exchange of goods and harmonizes the legislation when there is mutual consent and participation. There is the free trade in goods within which the sides abide by the own rules, regulations and relations with third countries. The EU invented the DCFTA particularly for the Eastern Partnership countries and this is neither the Customs Union nor free trade. The given format envisions the harmonization of the legislation on a unilateral basis. Moldova must transpose over 300 European directives, including those that were adopted after the signing of the Association Agreement, even if it made no contribution to their adoption,” Dmity Kalak argued.
“If the Association Agreement had clearly stipulated that it is a stage and Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia in 15-20 years would become EU members, such a state of affairs could have been explained. If the EU says it firmly that it does not go to accession, but the harmonization and putting into practice of the European legislation is mandatory, the situation is not really sincere.”
He believes that Brussels and Chisinau should meet at the negotiating table. “The bilateral documents should be reviewed so as to reach a clear agreement: if Moldova becomes an accession candidate, we will follow one path. If there is no prospect of joining the EU, we will follow another path and will eliminate the political and military provisions from the Association Agreement,” stated the journalist.
The public debate “European integration during the pandemic: new opportunities or stagnation?” was staged in the framework of the project “Overcoming stereotypes of European integration by communication” that is implemented by IPN with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
