Foreign Affairs on April 1–15, 2008

European integration

Implementation of ENP in 2007. Progress report on implementation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan

On April 3, the European Commission released the Communication to the Council and European Parliament “Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007”. The communication is accompanied by other documents of the Commission such as Overall Assessment, Progress and Country Reports. The Communication on the implementation of ENP in 2007 emphasises that the ENP is becoming a reciprocally advantageous partnership for reformation and development, drawing neighbouring countries into an increasingly close relationship with the EU, but promoting a regional integration outside the EU borders. Another important conclusion of the Communication is that future operational instruments which will replace the former Action Plans (especially on Moldova, Ukraine and Israel, which expire in 2008) will be adjusted to ambitions and capacities of partner states, covering differentiated relations between the EU and its partners. However, the new instruments will keep the old format of Action Plans, but will clearly specify the objectives/actions to be taken in the same key areas (7).

But the Progress Report Moldova on implementation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan from November 2006 to December 2007 was the most expected document. According to the Report, Moldova has made progress in all areas covered by EUMAP, in particular, improvement of the institutional framework, signing of the Agreement on Autonomous Trade Preferences and Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, close cooperation with the EU in the Transnistria settlement process and foreign policy questions, Moldova-Ukraine border management, introduction of origin certificates for exported commodities, creation of the National Agency for the Protection of Competition, etc.

According to the representative of the European Commission (EC) Delegation to Moldova, Paolo Berizzi, who has presented the Progress Report at a news conference, Moldova along with Ukraine, Morocco and Israel composes the group of states which made the greatest progress within the ENP.

However, Moldova is still behind in the areas of judicial reform, media freedom, fight against corruption, business and investment climate. According to the European official, the expiration of the Action Plan does not annul its further effective implementation, particularly regarding defaults, as long as another legal framework on EU-Moldova cooperation is unavailable. So far, in spite of insistence of Moldovan authorities to negotiate a new agreement with the EU, which would clearly stipulate Moldova’s European perspective, the EU did not propose a date but noted via its officials that the future agreement will be a continuation of the old Action Plan and it will not envisage the association.

The EC assessment satisfied Moldovan authorities and surprised independent observers who expected a bitter evaluation, given the regressed freedom of human rights and judicial system in Moldova in 2007.

First sitting of the Joint Committee on management of the Visa Facilitation Agreement

Chisinau hosted on April 11, 2008 the first sitting of the Joint Committee on management of the Visa Facilitation Agreement between Moldova and European Community. According to the Agreement, the Joint Committee is in charge with monitoring the endorsement of the document, recommending modification and completions to the Agreement and settling litigations occurring from interpretation or endorsement of the Agreement. The sitting approved procedure regulations of the Committee and discussed directory lines of implementation of the Agreement. The next sitting of the Joint Committee will take place in Brussels.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

The Moldova-Romania relations were mostly circumscribed to the small border traffic agreement between Moldova and Romania, which if signed, will allow residents in a 50-kilometre area from both sides of the common border to circulate in this area between the two countries without visas or passports, on the basis of special permits. Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan has told a news conference that Moldova received the agreement proposed by Bucharest, but noted that it will be negotiated and signed only after the negotiation and signing of the border agreement between the two countries and basic political treaty. The Romanian side has immediately reacted to this conditioning, with Romanian President Traian Basescu stating during a debate organised by Konrad Adenauer Foundation on April 15 in Bucharest that “a [border] treaty with Moldova is not a priority for Romania.”

Note by ADEPT. The basic political treaty and the border treaty have been the subject of disputes between Moldova and Romania for a long time. The name of the language and different visions on national identity were the apple of discord in case of the basic political treaty. In order to remedy this impasse, Romania proposed an alternative in 2006 — the signing of the European Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. As regards the border treaty, divergences are linked to the desire of the Moldovan side to include in the agreement a reference to the 1947 Paris Treaty concerning the border set between Romania and the Union in 1940 (the June 28, 1940 Romanian-Soviet agreement), a document which the Romanian side regards as out-of-date and illegal. According to official sources, both documents are being finalised at level of expert commissions. Although the MFAEI said in 2007 that the agreements could be signed by the end of 2007, the two countries did not sign them so far and no change is expected in this regard in the near future.

Elsewhere, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has asked Romanian authorities via Romanian Charge d’Affaires to Moldova Ionut Dicu to ensure a wider cooperation with the Moldovan Embassy in Bucharest, as it was tardily notified over cases involving Moldovan citizens. Also, the ministry notified the Romanian diplomat over inadequate conduct of Romanian border officers towards Moldovan citizens, inviting Romanian authorities to organise better the border crossing procedure for citizens of Moldova.

Republic of Moldova — Russia

Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu met on April 3 the chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federal Assembly, Boris Grizlov. According to the parliamentary press service, the two dignitaries have tackled issues related to commercial-economic relations between Moldova and Russia and Transnistria settlement process. Also, they discussed the possibility to organise a new meeting of the Moldovan-Russian interparliamentary commission in the Moldovan capital in 2008, with an eventual visit by Boris Grizlov to Chisinau.

Note by ADEPT. Last time, high-ranking parliamentary officials from Russia visited Moldova in 2002.

At the same time, Moldova’s President Vladimir Voronin and Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii have received Russian Ambassador to Moldova Valeri Kuzmin. They approached issues related to the perspective of resuming the Transnistria settlement negotiation process (which restarted shortly after the meeting concerned) and strengthening of partnership between the two countries in several areas. Prime Minister Grecianii stressed the importance of Russia as a strategic partner of Moldova, assuring the Russian ambassador that the new Cabinet of Ministers will take concrete actions to enlarge and deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. The commission for economic cooperation between Moldova and Russia will play an important role in this process. A first action in this regard took place on April 10, when the director of the federal migration service of the Russian Federation, Konstantin Romodanovsky, invited the Moldovan Government, at a meeting with Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianii, to build a joint database on migrants, which would facilitate the legalisation of migrants in both countries and include them into social assistance programmes.

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

The Moldovan-Ukrainian relations have been freshened up, as Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodimir Ogrizko visited Chisinau. According to the Ukrainian diplomacy, the visit aimed to study existing problems in Moldovan-Ukrainian relations (in particular, the recognition of Moldova’s patrimony in Ukraine, electricity prices, demarcation of the border between the two countries, etc.), in order to prepare a future official visit of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to Moldova. Ogrizko noted that a schedule of meetings aimed to remedy existing problems was set after talks with Moldova officials, with the first round being set for April 21–22, 2008.

In order to ensure a fair and quick resolution to the demarcation of the Moldova-Ukraine border, the foreign ministers of the two states have signed a letter to European Union Council Secretary-General Javier Solana and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, seeking technical (delegation of experts) and financial assistance from the European Union to demark the border, including the Transnistrian section. According to Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan, the EU is due to establish the amount of money for both countries, with the overall amount foreseen for the border demarcation accounting for 18 million Euros, of which half will be allocated in the first round.

Also during the visit, the sides have signed the Moldova-Ukraine agreement on cooperation in ensuring rights of national minorities.

Republic of Moldova — Slovakia

A visit by Slovakian Foreign Minister Jan Kubis to Moldova synchronised with a Moldovan-Slovakian economic forum was the key event in relations between the two countries in the period concerned.

The Slovakian foreign minister has met Moldovan officials. The talks focussed on development of commercial-economic relations, Moldova’s European aspirations and Slovakia’s eventual joining to the Common Visa Application Centre. In particular, Mr. Kubis stressed the interest of Slovakian businessmen to invest in Moldova, especially in energy, infrastructure, agriculture. In their turn, Moldovan officials sought Slovakia’s support to get the EU mandate for negotiation of a new Moldova-EU legal agreement, which would clearly stipulate a certain European perspective of Moldova and a gradual approaching of Moldova towards European freedoms.

The sides have signed an intergovernmental agreement between Moldova and Slovakia concerning mutual investment promotion and protection. Negotiations on another important agreement for Slovakian and Moldovan investors, the agreement on avoidance of double taxation, will shortly begin.

Multilateral cooperation

Official website dedicated to Moldovan Chairmanships in five regional commitments

On April 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration launched the official website dedicated to the Moldovan Chairmanships in the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Central European Initiative (CEI), Multinational Advisory Group of the Centre for Security Cooperation — RACVIAC (MAG RACVIAC), South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) and CEFTA in 2008 — 2009.

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

ECHR decisions

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) passed two decisions versus Moldova on April 8 in the cases Megadat.com SRL vs. Moldova and Gradinar vs. Moldova. It sentenced Moldova for violation of property and right to a fair trial. The Court did not order any pecuniary damages in the case Gradinar vs. Moldova, as the applicant, Galina Gradinar, did not raise any claims in this regard. As regards the Megadat.com SRL vs. Moldova case, the ECHR did not indicate any pecuniary damages and asked the applicants to claim damages and costs and expenses within three months. According to E.Musuc, manager of Megadat.com SRL, the Megadat.com SRL Company was worth between 8.4 and 14.15 million dollars when it was lifted from its licence.

Republic of Moldova — NATO

Bucharest hosted the 20^th NATO Summit on April 2–4. The Moldovan delegation was led by President Vladimir Voronin. Although the Moldovan delegation was almost imperceptible at the summit, Moldova is mentioned in the final declaration of the summit, with NATO supporting the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Moldova and calling for a peaceful resolution of the Transnistrian conflict.

Republic of Moldova — CIS

The Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the 30^th plenary meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and the 37^th sitting of the CIS Economic Council have been held in the period concerned. Moldova was represented by Speaker Marian Lupu and First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Dodon, minister of economy and commerce.

Republic of Moldova — SEECP

Moldova will take over the Chairmanship in the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in May. According to Parliament chairman Marian Lupu, Moldova’s priorities as SEECP Chair will be the following: developing the dialogue between SEECP and EU member states, promoting the European perspective of South East European states, supporting European integration aspirations of South East European countries and granting a status of strong and consolidated regional European forum to the SEECP.

Republic of Moldova — RACVIAC

Chisinau hosted the 19^th Meeting of the Multinational Advisory Group (MAG) of the Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC) on April 9–11. RACVIAC is a nongovernmental structure in charge with providing specialised assistance to member states of the Stability Pact for South East Europe in the area of regional arms control verification and implementation. Moldova chairs the MAG RACVIAC in 2008.

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