Lina Grau: 2015 is not only a lost year in the relations with the EU

2015 was regretfully not only a lost year in the relations with the EU, but also a year that took us to the bottom of the priorities of the agenda of the European states. The political class disappointed considerably and we will all feel the consequences, said foreign policy expert Lina Grau, who described for IPN the year 2015 from the perspective of the relationship with the European Union.

Lina Grau considers the very bad image that Moldova built through its political class is the most negative aspect. In several months, the Republic of Moldova achieved the worst performance of covering the path from a success story that enjoyed the major support of the European chancelleries to a state in a serious political, economic, social and security crisis, with street protests and almost non-functional state institutions.

“The disappointment generated by the Republic of Moldova will cost us years, if not more than a decade, of delay in the European integration process. The suspension of financing by the Western partners following the ‘theft of the century’ had a very negative effect on the Republic of Moldova. The EU, the World Bank, the IMF, the EBRD and U.S. asked that things in the banking and justice sectors should be brought in order and that corruption should be fought,” stated Lina Grau.

It’s hard to speak about positive aspects

The expert considers the positive factor is actually related to the fact that the real face of the Moldovan political class became evident, that the EU finally realized the reality and that from now on the financial support will not be provided unconditionally. “I hope the EU understood that it should offer more support to civil society and local projects so as to support the real alternatives in society. Maybe we can also speak about the waking up of a part of society, which realized that things can be changed only by personal involvement. I hope the new political class will develop based on this principle,” stated Lina Grau.

She noted that in 2015 the Republic of Moldova should have obtained the first results in the implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU and should have made spectacular progress in reforming justice, adjusting the economy to the European norms and depoliticizing the state institutions. A series of measures were to taken to adjust Moldova’s legislation and practices to the EU standards, to ensure the country’s energy and information security.

Lina Grau said that regretfully, we cannot expect an improvement in the relations with the EU in 2016 given the political instability and crises anticipated in Chisinau. If a coalition of the left or center-left comes to power, the European course will be frozen in the best case. The foreign course could be yet reoriented to Russia. “I think there is a risk that the Republic of Moldova will be swiftly federalized, which will be a de factor ‘Transnistrization’, by reediting the so-called Kozak Plan. This will represent a guarantee for Russia that the Republic of Moldova will not return to its European aspirations soon. The EU should lay emphasis on the support for civil society and local initiatives in the Republic of Moldova. Only this way can a new political class with health values be built,” she stated.

Valeriu Giletski: It was a year with very modest results

Liberal-Democrat MP Valeriu Giletski said that 2015, from the perspective of the relations with the EU, was a good one because there is permanent communication with the European Union. In the middle of the current crisis, political groups from the European Parliament made effort to mediate the crisis and to contribute to forming a new Government. From practical viewpoint, it was a year with very modest results.

Owing to the political instability, no significant progress was made in implementing the Association Agreement with the EU. Moldova could not benefit from many financial assistance projects aimed at supporting reforms. In 2016, Moldova should overcome this political crisis so that there is stability and should make effort to implement the Association Agreement and to do the undertaken reforms so that the people feel a qualitative change of the socioeconomic indicators and see progress.

“I wish more results have been achieved this year, the planned projects have been implemented and the plan of action has been adopted. Owing to the political crisis, we didn’t manage to do much. Two weeks ago, in the meeting of the parliamentary commission on foreign affairs and European integration, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman presented a report and we ascertained that we have yet a lot to do. But the overdue measures can be taken if we start the year with a formed Government and concentrate our efforts on the implementation of the European agenda,” stated the lawmaker.

Valeriu Giletski believes the political crisis can now be solved by the politicians, while the people could exert more pressure on them so that they overcome it. A candidate for premiership was nominated (Ion Sturza) and the people can demand that a Government headed by this should be voted in.
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Note: IPN’s reporter asked a number of MPs from different parliamentary groups to state their opinions about the current relationship between Moldova and the EU, but no responses were provided.

Mariana Galben, IPN