Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said that Moldova should only leave the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) after it has become a candidate for European Union membership, Radio Free Europe reported Jan. 25. Moldovan President Igor Dodon is a proponent of deeper integration with Russia and the former Soviet states , but Moldovan opposition lawmakers have proposed a bill to leave the CIS to pursue EU membership. Leanca recently met in Brussels with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who said that the European Union would support Moldovan membership if the country implements commitments it has made under its Association Agreement with the bloc.