PERSPECTIVE The Republic of Moldova in the Eastern Partnership From»Poster Child« to»Problem Child«? David Rinnert August 2013 n Under Prime Minister Vlad Filat’s administration(2009–2012), the Republic of Mol­dova was portrayed as the success story of the Eastern Partnership(EaP). This inter­pretation came to an abrupt end in 2013 at the outbreak of Moldova’s political crisis. The circumstances of Filat’s resignation and the establishment of the new administ­ration under Iurie Leancă have exposed the ineffectiveness of the country’s national institutions and the corruption within its political system. n Despite the events of early 2013, the status of the Republic of Moldova in the EaP has yielded positive results in many areas. Following the negotiations to establish association, deep and comprehensive free trade and visa liberalisation agreements, a number of reforms have been implemented in recent years. However, it is no longer likely that these agreements will be ratified at the EaP summit in Vilnius in November 2013. n So far, the EU has focused too much on legislative reforms and not ascribed enough importance to structural challenges, such as those seen in the public administration. The EU’s calls for reforms and financial assistance alone will not necessarily foster lasting democratisation. The EU should perform a re-evaluation of the situation in the Republic of Moldova and critically rethink its own approach in the country. n In the medium term, however, the advancement of the Moldovan integration pro­cess depends first and foremost on the political events that will unfold within the country from now until the parliamentary elections in 2014. Local observers have doubts about whether the current administration under Leancă will be able to over­come the dispute among the parties, which is dominated by special interests, and the political corruption in the state.