Partnership as a new form of integration? The Eastern Partnership initiative in the eyes of Moldovan public opinion

This thesis addresses a gap in the European studies literature by investigating public opinion in Moldova and its perception of the country’s European path, with a particular focus on the Eastern Partnership initiative, and the crucial role that media plays in shaping public opinion at home. This work proceeds in two parts. The first part deeps into the tools and mechanisms used by the EU in its external relations with the immediate neighbourhood, particularly the concept of partnership, its overall progress and failure in the Eastern region. The second part of the thesis, on the other hand, focuses on public opinion in the frontrunner of the Eastern Partnership, namely Moldova. After a brief section on the country’s relations with the Union, the thesis will investigate the evolution of the perception of the country's public opinion of the EU, its policies, and its overall presence in Moldova as well as the crucial role that media plays in shaping citizen’s preferences and opinions. It was in this context of the Eastern enlargement fatigue that the EU launched the new European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2004 with the aim of building political and economic ties in the immediate neighbouhood. EU builds partnerships with its border regions, integrates them in its market, and tries to share its values, democracy and good governance. However, this is a new type of integration, an integration that goes beyond mere conditionality for countries that clearly lack membership perspective and are included in Russia’s sphere of influence too. The mixed response received from the ENP countries and the Russian-Georgian war in August 2008, translated in the need for the EU to boost its presence in the eastern neighbourhood. Against this background, the EU designed the eastern dimension of the ENP, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative. Founded during the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit in 2009, the Eastern Partnership is a strategic and ambitious European partnership aiming at strengthening and deepening the political and economic ties with six partner countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The goal of this type of partnership is to promote growth of democratic institutions and governance in Eastern Europe through favorable trade agreements for better economic development, and direct support from the EU in areas of social and environmental policy, and human rights among others. The partnership is a manifestation of the EU’s soft power approach to foreign policy, an approach that aims at attracting national governments to join EU’s side through peaceful diplomatic strategies. How did the partnership evolved over the years? Can it be considered as an alternative to the prospect of membership? These will be the main questions around which the first part of this thesis will revolve. Finally, the second part will be dedicated to investigating public opinion in one specific Eastern partner, namely Moldova. Moldova is often dubbed as the frontrunner of the Eastern Partnership initiative and the country has often oscillated between the Russia way and European Union path based on the government in power. At present time, especially after the events of February 24, 2022, Maia Sandu's Moldova has never been closer to the Union. The role of media in shaping public opinion’s attitudes towards the EU integration and, more specifically the Eastern Partnership initiative, will give a more nuanced picture of the policy perception at home and suggest further adjustments in the policy if necessary.