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. 
 
¶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