The Moldovan economy faced harsh regional conditions and economic pressures on the part of the Russian Federation thanks to the EU's Free Trade Agreement. The Free Trade Agreement provides Moldovan manufacturers with access to a market with 500 million consumers and the development and implementation of confidence building standards in Moldovan products. However, Igor Dodon, the President of the Republic of Moldova, is trying to throw the country into the arms of the Eurasian Union, space unpredictable and where the rights of the members are ignored. It is the opinion expressed by Ion Tăbârţă, expert IDIS Viitorul within the program "15 minutes of economic realism"

In mid-April 2017, President Igor Dodon participated in Bishkek at the meeting of states in the Eurasian Community. He signed a document by which the Republic of Moldova was designated as an observer in the community, and this has sparked controversy in the Moldovan society.

Through his gestures, Igor Dodon resurrected certain geopolitical feelings. For the Republic of Moldova, which is at the confluence between the East and the West, the EU is more attractive in terms of economic development and modernization of Moldovan society. Moreover, it may come up with some solutions to the problems in the Republic of Moldova. This means economic development, rule of law, but also other aspects that relate to democratic development. On the other hand, the Eurasian Union is not a space of democracy and clear rules of play.

"The act signed by Dodon is devoid of real, institutional consistency. Rather, it is part of the logic of the behavior of a geopolitical president and not of a president representing the interests of all citizens of the Republic of Moldova. This further divides the Moldovan society, which, in the absence of a consensus among the political forces, is looking for the country's model of development, "Tăbârţă said.

Currently, from an economic point of view, the Republic of Moldova should deepen its trade relations with the EU resulting from that framework created after Chisinau signed the Association Agreement. As an argument, our country has increased its trade relations with the community space where the rules of the game are predictable. While relations with the Russian Federation are determined by political and geopolitical criteria such as the introduction of all kinds of embargoes on Moldovan agri-food products exported to the Russian market.

The show is made by IDIS Viitorul in partnership with Radio Free Europe.

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