Romania and the Republic of Moldova

Patented a decade ago by the European Union, in its bid to have the former Soviet colonies embrace its standards of democracy, rule of law and economic prosperity, the Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership include six states which, far from making up a monolith, are quite different from one another.

Aleksandr Lukasenko’s quasi-dictatorship in Belarus or Armenia’s docility towards Russia, Azerbaijan’s desire to be on good terms with both Brussels and Moscow and, on the other hand, the association and free trade agreements that Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia signed with the EU last year, are reasons enough to see that each of these countries needs a specific approach.

Following Wednesday’s meeting in Bucharest with his Moldovan counterpart, Natalia Gherman, the Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu stressed that, through the reforms implemented after 2009 by the current pro-western administration, the Republic of Moldova was the most efficient partner in the Eastern Partnership.

“We are now working on a new approach to the Neighbourhood Policy and also on modernizing the Eastern Partnership, in order to both preserve the differences that exist between partners, including from a financial point of view, and at the same time find new efficiency criteria for the Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership”, Bogdan Aurescu said.

Aware that the endorsement of the new pro-Western government in Chisinau on the basis of the decisive votes of the traditionally pro-Russia communist MPs has disturbed and annoyed the West,

Mrs. Gherman gave assurances that all parties in Chisinau are committed to fighting corruption and reforming the judiciary in keeping with the European standards.

“It was a first for the Moldovan Communist Party to vote in favour of a government program that has clearly stressed how important is for our country to apply for the status of EU candidate and to start negotiations”, Natalia Gherman said.

Also on Wednesday, while minister Aurescu was reiterating Romania’s decision to remain the most fervent and consistent supporter of Chisinau’s European integration, in Brussels the European Commission launched a public debate on the revision of the neighbourhood policy.

The EU desperately needs new, better and more effective tools, admitted Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

She also said that the West must use its full potential in terms of bilateral relations, in order to have an impact on the region.

There are common challenges that we must all address: security, migration, the protection of fundamental rights and democracy, energy security, economy and trade, Federica Mogherini also stressed.