The association of sociologists and demographists of Moldova conducted public opinion polls devoted to attitude of citizens to NATO, the EU and the Eurasian Union. 17% respondents support accession of Moldova to NATO; 47% of citizens are against it. Moreover, the Moldavians’ interest to accession to the EU reduced: only 44% of respondents support the integration, that is by 17% less than last year. 40% of population support the idea of joining the Eurasian Union. Moldavians consider the Eurasian Union as nostalgia on the Soviet past. Russian experts discuss what the Eurasian Union can give Moldova.
Editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza Alexei Vlasov
Along with the nostalgic moment there is another aspect, which was marked by the former president of the country Mr. Voronin. Of course, the Customs Union and the United Economic Space is a possibility for controlling oil and gas prices, which is significant for Moldova, speaking about preferences in trade relations, i.e. pragmatic aspects, which might lead to closed partner relations with Russia within the Eurasian project. I think the top of the Communist Party of Moldova and the opposition, which is not a member of the alliance, will declare the pragmatism by Voronin as the main reason for Kishinev’s interest in the Eurasian Union.
In Russia the Eurasian theme paled into insignificance due to the election campaign. Vladimir Putin publishes articles on other issues: national policy, social issue, modernization. On the contrary in Kazakhstan ideologists of the presidential administration promote the Eurasian theme in the way, which us beneficial for Astana. I think only after March elections, when a new government of Russia will face the problem of further relations with the former Soviet space, they will be back to the Eurasian project. I think spring-summer 2012 will be crucial moments in this context.
As for the European Union, a part of the political elite of Moldova is aimed at ideology of promotion European integration, but it is only a mean of running from Russia, rather than incorporation of European values and living standards to Moldova. Most of Moldavian politicians do not want to move anywhere. They want to maintain a favorable position between two centers of power.
First vice-president of the Center of Strategic Development Modeling, Grigory Trofimchuk
The situation within the EU is simpler – people are hungry. Those countries, which strived for it from “the occupational Soviet zone,” have been fed. The crisis worsened it. On the other hand, Moldavians understand that euro is nothing. In Russia exchange-value of euro is 40 rubles for years despite the crisis. It’s not normal. Even dollar always jumps. It means if euro collapses, it will be for the first and the last time. Furthermore, new members of the EU are being humiliated. For example, Hungary was assigned “garbage rating,” and the same might happen with Moldova. In addition, Moldavians understand that a strict common financial and political government of the EU will be established. What is more important for an average Moldavian citizen: formal accession to the European Union or getting qualitative food and industrial products, available taxes and services? I think the last one. Who can provide it? Here the issue of the Eurasian project arises. The Eurasian project should develop not as a balance against the EU, but as a quite economic harbor. In this case not only the former Soviet republics, but the countries of Eastern Europe will strive for it.
Senior scientist of the Russian Strategic Research Institute, Vasily Kashirin
The results of the poll are not sensational. Public opinion shows that the majority of Moldova’s population feels nostalgia to the Soviet past. Eurasian preferences of Moldavians are based on pragmatic economic ideas. Let us say a half of working citizens of Moldova have to be labor migrants, and a half of them are working in the Russian Federation. These people are interested in close integration between two countries. There is another reason – for two years, despite the governmental propaganda, Moldova hasn’t achieved any results on the way toward the EU. Population of Moldova feels nobody waits for them in the European Union. At the same time, the Eurasian Union is a structure, which invites and welcomes them. That is why growth of supporters of the Eurasian project can be observed.
