Moldova (bbabo.net), - A compromise solution is needed on the law on the promotion of local products (50% of the contents of the shelves), says political scientist Dionis Cenușe. According to him, the protection of local producers has nothing to do with a certain political doctrine, reports noi.md
“The unfavorable economic situation calls for new approaches, which may be temporary or with exceptions per product and depending on situations.
I explain:
- The argument that one should not give preference to local producers or products, because this may affect the competitiveness of imports from the EU, is logical. That's right, Moldova has obligations to the EU. However, in discussions with various European officials on the Association Agreement, my attention has often been drawn to the fact that the EU is flexible and some solutions can be found/created in the negotiation process.
- The protection of local producers should not be a politicized topic, because this indirectly leads to the fact that some political forces associate the EU with the "enemy". There are ways to prevent external partners (EU) from being discredited and to build consensus among national political forces (power and opposition), along with other stakeholders, to protect and promote the consumption of local products:
1) a reasoned request from the European Commission on the need to protect local producers and products (product categories, periods, mechanisms that would operate during the protection period for a certain type of product) can be formulated;
2) consultations are mandatory between all local political forces and associations of manufacturers, including representatives of European business in Chisinau, in order to reach a common denominator and take a common position;
3) only after that political and sectoral consultations/negotiations with the EU can be requested, which Brussels will not ignore if the request is well reasoned.
As part of possible consultations/negotiations with the EU, solutions could be proposed to calibrate measures (temporary transitional periods for certain products depending on local market conditions) that would add value to the Association Agreement. It is well known that, unlike Ukraine and Georgia, Moldova had the fewest objections in the Association Agreement negotiations. Thus, Moldova has a moral right to use the EU's flexibility to find innovative solutions to protect local producers/products. If solutions are offered for local producers (at least for sensitive products and for the pandemic recovery period), the image of the EU will only be improved and, at the same time, the toxic issue will be depoliticized.
I repeat, there are great chances that the EU will be open to such discussions (provided that the arguments are convincing), but Chisinau must have the political will and refuse to be rigid on this issue, for political reasons!”.
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