Reuters: “Defying Russian warnings, Moldova and Georgia head for EU pact”

Despite criticism from Russia, post-Soviet countries Georgia and Moldova will sign a trade and political pact with the European Union this month.

For these two countries this will be "a crucial step” to get closer with Europe, and could lead to eventual membership into the powerful EU trading bloc.

Will Russia interfere in the signing process to hinder these small countries’ European aspirations or will Russia accept and respect these countries’ choices? And how will Russia behave once the agreements are signed?

These are questions being asked by Reuters journalists Margarita Antidze and Alexander Tanas in an article published on the Reuters website on June 10.

In the case of Georgia, which unlike Moldova, has no borders with the EU and is less dependent on Russia for energy, the biggest fears are political rather than economic.

Read the full article on: www.reuters.com