Russia aims to tie Moldova to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the detriment of the European integration. The Moldovan-Russian Plan of Action for developing the commercial and economic relations that was signed in Moscow last week allows maintaining the commitments made by Moldova within the CIS. This thing fully matches one of the objectives of the foreign policy conception that was made public by Russia recently, politologist Dionis Cenusa says in an opinion article for IPN.

He noted that the Plan of Action was negotiated in a non-transparent way and wasn’t published even after the protocol it contains was signed in Moscow on November 29, 2016. This plan was signed while discussions on the deepening of reforms related to the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU were held in Brussels.

The politologist makes reference to particular Russian officials who described the Plan of Action as a measure to ‘discipline’ the Moldovan authorities. This envisions a set of commitments of Chisinau concerning the economic aspect and, indirectly, the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU without which the Association Agreement cannot produce a major transforming potential in the country.

According to Dionis Cenusa, the Plan of Action visibly favors the Russian side as it contains multiple unilateral commitments that meet the economic interests of Russia. For example, Chisinau committed itself to consider importing agricultural equipment, aircraft and public transport made in Russia, eventually to the detriment of other producers, including the European ones.

The politologist also sees a connection between the Plan of Action and Russia’s foreign policy objectives contained in the Concept of Foreign Policy that was published on November 30, 2016.

“Before a feasible plan for Moldova’s entry into the Eurasian Economic Union appears, Russia does not lose any opportunity to maintain it in its sphere of influence through the CIS. Such an intention of Russia can be deduced by analyzing the Moldovan-Russian Plan of Action concerning the development of the commercial-economic relations,” wrote Dionis Cenusa.

In conclusion, the politologist says there is not much certainty that the Plan of Action will really help eliminate the barriers to Moldova’s exports as it is rather designed to restore Moldova’s presence in the CIS.