Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU1270
2008-12-29 08:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

MOLDOVA NOT PLEASED WITH ITS PLACEMENT IN

Tags:  PREL PGOV EUN MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5809
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHCH #1270/01 3640816
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290816Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7476
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001270 

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA NOT PLEASED WITH ITS PLACEMENT IN
EU'S EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect
Accordingly.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHISINAU 001270

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA NOT PLEASED WITH ITS PLACEMENT IN
EU'S EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect
Accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: Moldova is unhappy with a
European Commission offer that puts it on the path
to closer ties to the EU, but only in association
with other CIS countries. On December 3, the
European Commission officially proposed an Eastern
Partnership to promote upgraded political and
economic cooperation with six of the EU's eastern
neighbors, including Moldova. However, the GOM
would have preferred to be grouped with
Southeastern European states, such as those in the
Balkans, that have better prospects for European
integration.


2. (SBU) Though Romania initially supported
Moldova's Balkan-group preference, more recent
Romanian statements have suggested the partnership
as Moldova's "ticket to Europe." Moldova now
appears to have no choice but to accept the
partnership as the next platform from which to
continue its aspirations towards European
integration. This is an offer Moldova cannot
refuse. End summary.

Eastern Partnership to Offer Advantages
--------------


3. (U) The Eastern Partnership is a joint Polish
and Swedish initiative that was initially
suggested in May to include six of the EU's
eastern neighbors -- Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus,
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The partnership
plans significant financial assistance and a new
type of EU Association Agreement that would
include comprehensive trade agreements. Support
for its launching on December 3 was boosted by the
conflict in Georgia this past August, but the
partnership will still require final approval by
the EU Council next spring.


4. (U) Under the Eastern Partnership, the EU will
provide significant financial assistance to help
the partner countries enhance their administrative
capacities and thus facilitating reforms. The EU
will also fund infrastructure projects to
strengthen the energy security of partner
countries, thus helping to ensure its own
security. The list of priorities also includes
free trade zones with the EU and within the
partnership, economic integration with the EU, and
an easier visa regime for travel to the EU. The
Eastern Partnership will adopt an individual
approach to each country and the advancement of
relations with the EU will depend on each
country's performance.

Moldova not Pleased with Eastern Partnership
--------------


5. (SBU) Although the Eastern Partnership was
intended to offer benefits to its members, Moldova
was not happy to be grouped with the Eastern bloc,
and had hoped instead to be included with the
countries of south-eastern Europe that have better
prospects for future membership. Thus far,
Moldova has refrained from making any public
comments on the Eastern Partnership offer.

Romania Initially Supported Moldova's Position
-------------- -


6. (SBU) Romania initially supported the Moldovan
position. Both Romanian President Basescu and the
Romanian Foreign Ministry made statements
declaring that the Eastern Partnership was
intended to prevent countries such as Moldova from
accession to the EU. However, on December 4,
Romanian Ambassador to Moldova Filip Teodorescu
performed what appeared to be a complete
turnaround and told the press that the EP
represented "Moldova's ticket to Europe."

Comment: Moldova Lacks a Better Alternative
--------------


7. (SBU) The GOM regards its inclusion in the

CHISINAU 00001270 002 OF 002


Eastern Partnership as a rejection of its efforts
to secure a more ambitious status for Moldova
within the EU. Moldova would much prefer to sign
an Association Agreement that offers a clearer
European perspective. At the same time, the
partnership is envisaged as an asymmetric
initiative, which will offer different speeds of
integration to its partners. Thus, if Moldova
advances more quickly in its reforms, it may gain
its integration objectives sooner than other CIS
countries. As long as the EU refuses to give
Moldova clearer signals on its longer-term
prospects for integration, the Eastern Partnership
will remain Moldova's best option. However,
Moldova is still expecting a new agreement on EU-
Moldova relations to be adopted soon, as a follow-
on to the Action Plan that expired earlier this
year. For now Moldova would be wise to accept the
half-full glass of Eastern Partnership with
prospects of more and better things to come.

CHAUDHRY