The new institutional set-up of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is an attempt to hasten reforms in the member states. At the same time, the fact that Moldova is no longer the success story of the EaP is a tragedy, said politicians and political pundits invited to the program “Red Button” produced by the public TV channel Moldova 1, IPN reports.
Alexandru Bujoreanu, deputy head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, said the biggest tragedy is the fact that Moldova is no longer the success story of the Eastern Partnership and this thing can be challenged by no one. “We consider things will continue to worsen and we have two rather simple arguments: 2018 is an electoral years and, as practice and history show, reforms are not done, but are mimicked in such a year. We will then enter 2019, which will also be an electoral one, with local elections. In 2019, there will be held the next Eastern Partnership Summit and this will be a crucial one. What could the Republic of Moldova present then? I don’t know, but we are skeptical in this regard,” stated Alexandru Bujoreanu.
Ana Gutu, first deputy head of the National Unity Party, said the EaP is a project designed to ensure the EU’s comfort at the borders. The EU wants stability at its borders. That’s why it devotes attention to the state of democracy in these six states. The Republic of Moldova is no longer what it was in 2013-2014 – a success story. “The new Eastern Partnership plan is aimed at ensuring the personal comfort of the European Union,” stated the politician.
The leader of the European People’s Party of Moldova Iurie Leanca, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, said what the EU together with the EaP countries will do from now on will center on people’s interests. “From now on, this cooperation will be much better structured. There were identified four platforms, respectively, four benefits for the citizens. Very clear objectives will be set under each platform,” he noted.
Political expert Ion Tabirta considers the modification of the cooperation framework with the EaP is an attempt to improve the institutional functionality of the Partnership and to hasten the reforms in the member states. After 2014, the Eastern Partnership entered an evolution crisis and they do not really know what they want from this. “The European Union tries again to stimulate us so that we do reforms, stated the analyst.
On March 12, 2018, the new institutional set-up of the Eastern Partnership initiative was launched in Brussels in the presence of senior officials from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU Member States. The new structure for institutional cooperation between the Eastern Partnership countries and the EU Member States is more compact and focuses first and foremost on the efficient delivery of reforms that bring real results to the citizens. The new approach makes it more important that the partner countries engage at an appropriate level, able and willing to progress with the 20 deliverables agreed to be implemented by 2020.
