Poroshenko can bring Transnistria into the EU free trade zone – media
Moscow - Kyiv, June 18 (Navigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Tiraspol was visited by the EU's chief negotiator for the free trade zone with Moldova, Luc Devigne. He explained to the Transnistrian authorities the benefits that the unrecognized republic could receive if it joined the EU FTA. Possible preferences interested representatives of Transnistria, 80% of whose exports go to Western countries, a source in the Moldovan government told NG. It is also known that the European integration of Transnistria, according to the source, is facilitated by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, who owns the assets of a number of Transnistrian enterprises.
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Brussels envoys promise Tiraspol trade preferences for Pridnestrovian enterprises, otherwise they will have difficulties with exports - their products will become uncompetitive on the European market.
Deputy editor of the Chisinau publication Kommersant Plus Artem Varenitsa confirmed to NG that Luc Devigne’s proposals were of interest to the Transnistrian government: “Tiraspol is choosing between a complete blockade, the impossibility of comprehensive assistance from Russia (Ukraine has closed entry and exit from the region) and the EU. The choice can be made in favor of the European Union.” Moreover, the risks for the unrecognized republic are increasing with the deepening of the gas crisis.
Expert of the Chisinau Economic Review Dmitry Calac told NG that “there is an unspoken agreement between the EU, Kiev and Chisinau that Moldova will not be left without gas even with the most negative development of Ukrainian-Russian gas relations.” Kalak noted that Chisinau was promised, in the event of blocking of transit from the Russian Federation to the EU, to supply gas from Ukrainian storage facilities, which Kyiv prudently filled before the start of the energy crisis.
Industrial Transnistria does not have such guarantees, although it also receives gas through Ukraine. In Kyiv they say that they can also help Transnistria - if it agrees to join the European Union free trade zone.
Until recently, the leadership of Transnistria opposed the association agreement between Moldova and the EU, pointing out that this would create serious problems for local plants and factories. But, finding itself in an almost hopeless situation, the region may agree to the opportunity to work in the EU free trade area, provided that this does not interfere with its integration into another union - the Customs Union. Chisinau and Brussels promise this to Tiraspol, and at the same time to Moscow. Kyiv, taking into account the interests of President Petro Poroshenko in Transnistria, will most likely contribute to its rapprochement with the EU. “The Transnistrian problem in this case will be removed, and Moscow in this situation will not be able to prevent this,” summarized Artem Varenitsa. He noted that such a prospect is real.
The business interests of Petro Poroshenko are associated with a number of companies in the Transnistrian region. According to the website genshtab.info, the partner of the Ukrainian oligarch is his former classmate, ex-employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Transnistria Sergei Voloshin. Together they own shares in the Moldavkabel plant, the Bendery oil extraction plant, the Bendery bakery plant, the brewery, the Tigina shoe factory and the Floare carpet factory. In addition, Poroshenko, together with former adviser to President Yushchenko Youssef Hares, is a co-owner of the Transnistrian enterprise MMZ (Moldavian Metallurgical Plant). In Tiraspol, Petro Poroshenko is a shareholder of the Elektromash plant. According to some reports, the elected president of Ukraine also has property on the right bank territory of Moldova. The most famous is the Gemeni commercial center in Chisinau.
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