Transdniestrian settlement: CMI’s high-level dialogue group visits Moscow

On 15 July 2015, members of CMI’s high-level expert dialogue group on Transdniestrian settlement from Chisinau and Tiraspol visited Moscow. The visit was focused on a round table event organised by the Centre for Situation Analysis (CSA), Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in cooperation with CMI.

The event was attended by experts and policymakers from CSA, IMEMO, Eurasian Economic Commission, Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Institute of the Economy, RAS, Institute of Europe, RAS and other analytical centres.

The roundtable event and discussions centered on prospects for sustainable trade relations between the Republic of Moldova, Transdniestria, the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union. Among other topics, participants explored the issues of compatibility of the European Union’s DCFTA and CIS’s Free Trade Area for the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria and comparisons between systems of technical regulation and phyto-sanitary and veterinary control measures of the Eurasian Economic Union and of the EU. The discussions were held in the context of analysing how cooperation in trade could positively support the Transdniestrian settlement process, economic development and contribute to stability in the region.

This event was organised in continuation of CMI’s ongoing support to the high-level expert dialogue group operating under its aegis in maintaining channels of communication with all international stakeholders influencing the Transdniestrian settlement process. It follows on from similar events and visits to Moscow and Brussels in December 2014 and to Riga in April 2015, as part of Latvia’s EU Presidency.

CMI implemented this activity with funding support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.