Foreign Affairs on May 1–15, 2007

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) turned 58 on May 5. The CoE is a pan-European intergovernmental organisation which aims at consolidating democracy, ensuring the principles of the rule of law, protecting human rights, etc., on the European continent. The CoE was founded by 10 European states. It has now 47 member states, with Montenegro acceding on May 11.

CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has been on a fact-collection visit to Moldova shortly after this anniversary. He met Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, in Chisinau. The two officials discussed the CoE-Moldova cooperation and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Moldova. Hammarberg was generally satisfied with the dialogue between CoE and Moldova and outlined the need of a systemic approach of how the Chisinau authorities protect the human rights.

Strasbourg hosted the 117th session of the CoE Committee of Ministers on May 10–11. Eugenia Kistruga, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, represented Moldova at the session. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the session focussed on optimisation of relations between CoE and the European Union (E.U.), consolidation of the CoE human rights system, activity of CoE in the field of intercultural dialogue.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) sentenced Moldova in two cases on May 10.

The Strasbourg-based Court found the following violations in the case Modirca vs. Moldova: illegal detention of applicant, improper detention conditions, insufficient and irrelevant reasons to issue an arrest warrant, inadequate conditions for confident discussions between applicant and his lawyer. The ECHR told Moldova to pay 7,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 1,800 Euros in costs and expenses to the applicant.

In the second case, Mazepa vs. Moldova, the ECHR found the violation of rights of the applicant after a judgment awarding her victory was not executed and proceedings were excessively long. The Court told the Moldovan Government to pay 2,900 Euros to the applicant in non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages and 100 Euros in costs and expenses.

Republic of Moldova — European Union

Europe Day

Fifty-seven years ago, on 9 May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman launched a declaration inviting France, Germany and the other interested European states to place their basic industrial resources — iron and steel — under the authority of a supranational body, as “the foundation of a European Federation.” The document, also known as the Schuman Declaration, made the first move towards the creation of what is now known as the European Union (E.U.). That is why during the Milan Summit of E.U. leaders in 1985 it was decided to celebrate May 9 as “Europe Day”. All EC/ E.U. member states and those willing to accede to the E.U. celebrate the Europe Day since then.

Moldova almost ignores the formal celebration of this day, though it insistently seeks a European destiny. Chisinau continued this year the tradition of formally celebrating the victory over fascism on May 9, while the E.U. served champagne for European reconciliation and solidarity in the name of peace, stability and prosperity of the European continent.

Although Moldova did not hold official manifestations on the Europe Day, President Voronin said, however that “Moldova’s European route linked to its membership to the European culture and civilisation finally aims at our integration into the common European area and, for this reason, the Moldovan nation shares the joy of this holiday along with E.U. member states.” This is a pertinent message but without any actions to prove that Moldova is really sharing this joy.

Cooperation with civil society in European integration context

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has convoked a consultative meeting with civil society representatives after the ReportRO by Euroforum Consortium and the 6th issue of Euromonitor, which feature the progress achieved by Moldova in implementing the E.U.-Moldova Action Plan (EUMAP) in 2005–2006 and, respectively, the 1st quarter of 2007, were launched.

Ministerial officials and representatives of nongovernmental organisations participating in assistance, monitoring and assessment of the EUMAP implementation process exchanged opinions at the meeting. They studied deficiencies and problems encountered during implementation of EUMAP objectives, in particular, in the fields of justice, mass media, central public administration and cooperation between authorities and civil society. The ministry posted readiness to provide the necessary information for assessment of actions aimed at implementing the EUMAP.

Republic of Moldova — Romania

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has met Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu on occasion of meetings within the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). The officials agreed that the two countries must resume the bilateral dialogue, with Tariceanu saying that Romania is ready to share with Moldova the experience it has gained during the European integration process, at the extend wanted by Chisinau.

Earlier, Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu has told the Commission for European Affairs of the Romanian Parliament regarding an eventual Russian plan on Transnistria that the alleged plan is disliked by Romania, because it would take Moldova farther from the E.U. and would harbour it into the Russian area of influence. Cioroianu noted that he would be ready to visit Moldova in order to restart the bilateral dialogue.

Republic of Moldova — SEECP

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan, minister of foreign affairs and European integration, represented Moldova at the summit of heads of state and government of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and at the meeting of SEECP foreign ministers. The events took place in Zagreb, Croatia, on May 10–11.

The participants discussed issues related to reorganisation of regional cooperation processes once the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is created in January 2008. It will take over the activities of the Stability Pact for South East Europe (SPSEE) in tight cooperation with SEECP.

Hidajet Biscevic was appointed Secretary-General of RCC and the RCC Secretariat will be based in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.

Bulgaria has taken over the SEECP Presidency from Croatia. According to Moldpres, SEECP member states have decided by consensus that Moldova takes over the SEECP Presidency from Bulgaria in May 2008.

Republic of Moldova — CEFTA

The new CEFTA accord, which institutes a free trade regime between states participating in this regional arrangement, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia, came into force on May 1, 2007. The new CEFTA, also known as CEFTA 2006, was signed in Bucharest on December 19, 2006. CEFTA 2006 replaces 32 bilateral and free trade agreements between South East European countries.

CEFTA 2006 annuls the customs duties on import and export, quantity restrictions and other taxes with equivalent effect for trade with industrial products and majority of agro-industrial commodities. The accord also includes provisions related to the trade with services, intellectual property, public procurement, promotion of investments, customs management and preferential origin rules, procedure and conditions for applying safeguard measures and commercial protection tools. CEFTA 2006 corresponds to WTO norms and commitments of the signatory parties toward E.U.

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