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Moldova’s 'wannabe democracy' is worth rescuing. CEPS Policy Brief No. 185, 23 April 2009

Dura, George and Gnedina, Elena. (2009) Moldova’s 'wannabe democracy' is worth rescuing. CEPS Policy Brief No. 185, 23 April 2009. [Policy Paper]

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    Abstract

    The consequences of the post-electoral impasse in which Moldova finds itself after the parliamentary elections on 5 April 2009 are immense for the EU’s relations with Moldova and for the success of its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and Eastern Partnership (EaP). Despite many problems, Moldova is considered one of the ‘frontrunners’ as regards ENP implementation and is poised to negotiate an Association Agreement and a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement in the coming months. Yet the violent protests that rocked the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, on 7 April 2009, and the authorities’ subsequent violent arrests and beatings of protesters, journalists and opposition figures, may have negative repercussions on Moldova’s European integration efforts. The reversal in Moldova’s transition to a Western-style democracy may accelerate, failing a resolute response by the EU. This policy brief argues that first, the EU should put pressure on Moldova to stop its crackdown and investigate human rights violations, and second, the EU should make an attractive offer of increased cooperation and assistance if Moldovan authorities seek an agreement with the opposition and show progress in implementing democratic reforms. Failing this, the EU may witness yet another undoing of democratic reforms by one of its Eastern neighbours.

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    Item Type: Policy Paper
    Uncontrolled Keywords: Crisis management.
    Subjects for non-EU documents: EU policies and themes > External relations > common foreign & security policy 1993--European Global Strategy
    EU policies and themes > External relations > human rights & democracy initiatives
    EU policies and themes > Treaty reform > enlargement
    EU policies and themes > External relations > European Neighbourhood Policy
    Countries > Moldova
    Countries > Ukraine
    EU policies and themes > External relations > EU-Eastern Partnership
    Countries > Belarus
    EU policies and themes > External relations > conflict resolution/crisis management
    Subjects for EU documents: UNSPECIFIED
    EU Series and Periodicals: UNSPECIFIED
    EU Annual Reports: UNSPECIFIED
    Series: Series > Centre for European Policy Studies (Brussels) > CEPS Policy Briefs
    Depositing User: Phil Wilkin
    Official EU Document: No
    Language: English
    Date Deposited: 05 May 2009
    Page Range: p. 5
    Last Modified: 15 Feb 2011 18:10
    URI: http://aei.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10816

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