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Moldovans Prefer EU to Russian Group, Survey Says

New survey suggests that despite growing confidence among pro-Russian forces in Moldova, more people want to join the EU than the Kremlin-backed trading association.
A survey by the Washington-based non-profit International Republican Institute, coordinated by US performance-based consulting company Gallup Organization, reveals that far more people want the country to join the European Union than its Kremlin-backed alternative.

The survey showed that 49 per cent of Moldovan citizens favour joining the EU while 38 per cent would rather join the Eurasian Union, led by Russia.

Younger and middle-aged people are most in favour of joining the EU, with 65 per cent of the young and 51 per cent of the middle aged preferring this option. Those aged 50 and more opt more for the Eurasian Union.

The survey comes just a year before crucial parliamentary elections take place in which pro-Russian Socialists are tipped to take power and displace the pro-EU governments that have run the former Soviet republic for years.

A Socialist parliamentary victory would most likely result in Moldova scrapping the country’s current Association Agreement with the EU.