Viktor Yanukovych’s abrupt U-turn on an Association Agreement he had previously promised to sign at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius Summit in November 2013, overshadowed the fate of other participants in the Lithuanian capital. Moldova, Ukraine’s south-western neighbour and – at the time – holder of the dubious distinction of ‘poorest country in Europe’, was the 'star' of the summit.
Not only had Moldova’s leaders, together with their Georgian counterparts, initialed the Association Agreement, but, in addition, the European Commission rewarded its 'star pupil' with a proposal for visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for Moldovan citizens, provided they had biometric passports. This move not only recognised the Moldovan government’s conspicuous pro-European efforts, but was also an attempt to show other candidates, foremost Ukraine, the benefits of the European path.
The European Commission rewarded its 'star pupil' with visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for Moldovan citizens.
