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Opinion: Moldova: Should we really accelerate EU integration?

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The Democratic Party of Moldova's ratings are declining rapidly, mainly as a result of the series of scandals exposing the criminal activities of its top members, which were swiftly followed by charges against them.

Fellow party members have raised concerns that the scandal might rub off on the image of the country and create obstacles on the way to a European future.  A recent ‘star’ of the November Vilunus Summit, a reportedly exemplary disciple of the European Union among the countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood’ programme, Moldova enjoyed the fruits of a success story that resulted in accelerated rapprochement with the EU.

The endorsement of ‘Association Agreement’ in Vilnus opened the doors to  visa liberalization for Moldovan citizens, which is scheduled, according to Commission official Dirk Schubel, for the end of 2014. No less enthusiastic is MEP Tanja Fajon (Socialists, Slovenia), the rapporteur on the European Commission’s proposal for Moldova visa liberalization, confirming that all the necessary requirements are met - the country has well-established institutions,  rule of law and freedom of expression.

The realities of political life in Moldova contrast sharply with the picture drawn by the Eurocrats, which resembles more a Hollywood thriller - the leadership of the Democratic party will need to exclude Vladimir Plahotniuc (pictured below), who also carries the name Vlad Ulinich on his Romanian passport.

vlad-plahotniuc

The powerful oligarch, the country’s richest man and former first deputy speaker of the Moldovan parliament, is wanted by Interpol. Conducting a criminal investigation into fraud related to his multiple identities, Romanian authorities concluded that different names and passports were needed to conceal much more serious crimes: accusations of embezzlement, fraud and murder - stories of  alleged assassinations organized by Plahotniuc have been splashed over the Moldovan press.

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The scandal has a history - Plahotniuc already had problems with Romanian police a year ago. British judiciary intended to freeze his assets for embezzlement, but this has thus-far not been implemented.

Plahotniuc is not alone in the dock - vice speaker Adrian Candu and deputy Valery Guma have joined him on the politician’s black-list, wanted by the Romanian police for economic crimes, corruption and power abuse. Frequently, the name of Democratic Party leader Marian Lupu, is discussed in the same context, with questions being raised as to his proximity to the oligarch and the level of his involvement.

Moldovan publicist Vasile Nastase is widely quoted as reminding that the Romanian police criminal investigation dossier was launched around a year ago, but that it did not receive proper attention by Moldovan authorities. Plahotniuc is obviously still very powerful, with his monopoly on telecoms, which thus restricts reportage on the scandal.

"The competent structures in Chisinau took no action in applying sanctions against this politician of dubious reputation and swindler , who is hunted by Interpol, a beneficiary of raider attacks on the financial and banking system of the Republic of Moldova, the owner of an illegal monopoly in broadcast, the TVR executive who has seized its national coverage - the one who , as reported by press and officials, has seized the entire judicial system , as well as the prosecutor's office and the Attorney General, the beneficiary in a Supreme Court ruling , which has resulted in an oligarch being excessively," lamented Nastase, expressing general public discontent.

The chain of scandals involving the top figures in the Moldovan political elite raises the question of the credibility of the European strategy aiming to integrate Moldova into the EU.  The Moldovan electorate is hugely disappointed in the alleged fraud perpetrated by the leading political figures, which reflect in the lowest ratings for the Democratic Party in power.

But it is not only these who are a cause for concern.  Why has there been no reaction to this major political scandal in the country by European integrators? Why  have the very same people who reported to the EU citizenship the "splendid achievements of the Moldovan political class on the way to the democratization of the country" remained silent?  There has thus far been no reaction from the European Commission or Parliament.

Previously the acceleration of the integration of the Moldova’s best friend in the EU - Romania - granting it membership status, created a range of problems that remain unsolved. Should the political will of the eurocrats remain the ultimate compass on the way towards the Union's construction, or is it perhaps time to learn from the errors of the past?

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