Moldova withdraws from another 3 CIS agreements, this time to stop energy cooperation

CHISINAU. Sept 21 (Interfax) - The Moldovan parliament has withdrawn from three energy cooperation agreements of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at a meeting on Thursday, the government bills passed two readings by a vote of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), which constitutes the parliamentary majority.

In particular, the parliament withdrew from the CIS agreement on coordination of interstate relations in the electric power industry of February 14, 1992, the CIS agreement on the parallel operation of power grids of member states signed in Moscow on November 25, 1998, and the CIS agreement on electricity transit and capacities of member states of January 25, 2000.

Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov explained the need to withdraw from the CIS agreements in the parliament. He said Ukraine and Moldova established the trial connection to the European power grid (ENTSO-E) on February 24, 2022, having disconnected from the Soviet-era grid (IPS/UPS).

"Three days later, Ukraine refused to synchronize its power grid with those of Belarus and Russia again. [...] After a few weeks, a coordinated decision of Brussels approved the emergency synchronization of power grids of Moldova and Ukraine with the European continental system. A new stage began. We have no technical capacity to supply electricity through the former Soviet system," he said.

The three agreements have lost their relevance "both technically and politically," Parlicov said.

In February, Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu said Moldova would initiate its withdrawal from several dozen CIS agreements.

The Moldovan parliament withdrew from over 20 CIS agreements during the spring and summer session.