REALIZATION OF THE EU PROGRAM ‘EASTERN PARTNERSHIP’ CONCERNING THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

The article reveals the reasons that led to the emergence of the «Eastern partnership» in respect of several post-Soviet countries, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. The authors identify initial vulnerabilities of the Program which are connected, first of all, with ignoring Russia's interests while trying to involve former Soviet republics in its sphere of influence. The article analyses the peculiarities of the Program implementation in Moldova, since coming to power in Kishinev Pro-European coalition of political parties in 2009; revealed the nature of the relations between Brussels and Moldova in the framework of «Eastern partnership», shows the main content of the Agreement on Association between Moldova and the EU signed in June 2014, as well as the immediate effects of its implementation in Moldova, which aggravated the systemic crisis that emerged during the implementation by the official Kishinev of the pro-European integration course.