Even if Russia’s war in Ukraine is the factor that wants to turn things everywhere upside down, the Republic of Moldova should continue the justice sector reform, should strengthen the democratic institutions, as the Association Agreement with the EU provides, and should further focus on the priorities so as to free the state from captivity. Success would mean an advantageous position of Moldova in the competition and cooperation of the Associated Trio countries for the EU’s resources, political pundit Igor Boțan stated in a public debate on the issue staged by IPN News Agency.
Characterizing the current state of affairs and the relations between the Associated Trio countries, the expert reminded that the Republic of Moldova was the EU’s “success story”, but the “billion theft” and other reprovable phenomena occurred and Georgia took the place of Moldova. Things degenerated yet and until recently the Associated Trio states were an “oligarchic trio”.
The expert referred in particular to the European prospects of Ukraine. “Besides the war waged by Russia, Ukraine experiences a real catharsis. If Good helps Ukraine succeed in the war, the country will become very compatible for the European Union and will have a government that took the country out of the war and will not be subjugated by commitments towards the oligarchs. The restoration of Ukraine by a plan that was also announced by the Statement of Versailles was already agreed. This raises Ukraine to the level of champion (by accession chances),” stated Igor Boțan.
As to Moldova, he expert said this has a pro-European government that is not involved in schemes and thefts, but that has very limited potential that that does not enable yet to produce results. If Moldova had better results in the key areas of the Association Agreement, it would benefit from more substantial support from the European community. What will Moldova do next? The model of the Western Balkans does not really suit it.
Igor Boțan argued that the EU’s enlargement waves until now were based on well-thought out strategies and such strategies do not yet exist for the countries of the Associated Trio. The strategy for the Balkans is not suitable for the Republic of Moldova, for the post-Soviet countries and this was said back in May 2008, when the then President asked to connect Moldova to the process applied to the Western Balkans and the answer was “No”. The Eastern course was chosen as a result. Especially, after March 18, 2009, when a meeting in Russia’s Barvikha was held, things were regarded from another perspective than the European one. Now this Associated Trio should accumulate substance as this is worth the effort.
The public debate entitled “Associated Trio in new conditions: together and on their own” was the 240th installment of IPN’s project “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
