Policy Brief, European Policy Centre, October 2014, Author: Amanda Paul. After four years of negotiations, Moldova signed an Association Agreement (AA) including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) Agreement with the European Union (EU) on 27 June 2014. Ratified in the Moldovan Parliament on 2 July 2014 it came into provisional application on 1 September 2014.
While this development represents an important milestone in Moldova’s relations with the EU, the journey has not been easy. Negotiations were difficult and internal politics turbulent with three government crises during the process. Neighbouring Ukraine, Moldova has also come under pressure from Russia, including a ban on imports of Moldovan wine in 2013 and, in the aftermath of the AA’s ratification, on fruit and meat products. Despite Russia’s bullying, Moldova has remained focused on its goal of becoming a full EU member, although no such perspective is currently on offer.
Yet the road ahead remains tough. Moldovan society is far from united on European integration; the ruling pro-European Coalition, remains fragile and prone to infighting, and Russia is poised to meddle further. Concern is growing as security and stability in the region has deteriorated following Russian’s invasion of Ukraine. The result of the forthcoming 30 November parliamentary elections is crucially important, as a return to power of the current coalition is far from guaranteed
The policy brief can be found here.
This Policy Brief is published in the framework of the EU-Moldova Think Tank Dialogue, a project financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania through its Official Development Assistance Programme, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – the Bratislava Regional Centre. The project is implemented by a consortium of organisations, including the Romanian Centre for European Policies (CRPE) in Bucharest and its Moldovan Branch in Chisinau; the European Policy Centre in Brussels; and the Foreign Policy Association in Chisinau.