Foreign Affairs on April 16–30, 2008

European Integration

The second round of negotiations between Moldova and the European Union on Mobility Partnership

On April 22, in Brussels was held the second round of negotiations on Mobility Partnership between Moldova — European Union with the participation of representatives of the European Commission and more than 14 EU member states. The Moldovan delegation, headed by Valeriu Ostalep, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, included the representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy and Trade, Ministry of Informational Development and Border Guards Service.

During the negotiations, the text of the Mobility Partnership Document was discussed. The document will consist of 2 parts: 1)general that will draw the main directions of cooperation between Moldova and EU within the framework of the Partnership; 2)operational that will include the project proposals from the EU interested member states which will be updated according to Moldova’s needs and interests. The Moldovan delegation reaffirmed the importance to exploit within the framework of the Partnership such domains as: efficient border management, cooperation in regulation of migrational flows, reinvestment of remittances, strengthening of the national migration management system, implementation of Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements. In addition, there were discussed the ways to organize the cooperation platform for a better implementation of the Mobility Partnership, assessment of the projects’ impact and their update depending on Moldova’s needs.

Financial assistance provided by the European Union to Moldova in 2008–2009

According to a declaration of the Head of Political and Economic section of the European Commission’s Delegation to Moldova, Paolo Berizzi, Moldova will benefit from 50 million euros in financial assistance from the European Commission in 2008–2009. This amount is allocated to carry out and promote more infrastructure projects in Moldova. The European official highlighted that the EU financial assistance is not aimed at solving the problems faced by Moldova, but to strengthen the reforms carried out by the Government of Moldova. Besides, it was mentioned that the EU financial assistance will significantly increase in the future if Moldova collaboration with European structures will be successful.

Note. Since 1991, the EU has provided financial assistance to Moldova totaling almost 450 million euro.

Bilateral Cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

The disagreements related to the signing of the Convention on small cross-border traffic between Moldova and Romania continue to rule the Moldovan-Romanian relations. In response to the declaration of Romanian president Traian Basescu that the border agreement with Moldova is not a priority for Romania, since Romania has recognized Moldova’s independence within its current borders (see e-journal no.115), on April 17, 2008, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova (MFAEI) made public a press release. In the press release is mentioned that Moldova launched the initiative to start the negotiations with Romania regarding the small border traffic agreement by a Political Declaration expressed simultaneously with the signing of the EU-Moldova Visa Facilitation Agreement (10 October 2007). Moreover, it is stressed the fact that the Romanian draft of the Convention on small cross-border traffic contains the collocation “Moldova -Romanian State border” that de facto exists, but without a legal bilateral documentation. Thus, according to the Moldovan authorities, the single solution to clear up the border relations between these two countries remain the simultaneous signing of the State Moldovan-Romanian border Agreement and the Convention on small cross-border traffic.

Note by ADEPT. The conditionality between the signing of the Convention on small cross-border traffic and the signing of the state border agreement generated critics from the opposition political parties. Two of them — Liberal Democrat Party of Moldova and Alliance “Our Moldova” — launched initiatives to speed up the signing of the Convention on small cross-border traffic, inclusively by collecting the signatures of citizens unsatisfied with the decision of Moldovan authorities. The tensions in Moldovan-Romanian relations only increased after, in a TV interview, Moldovan President, Vladimir Voronin accused Romania of provoking the armed conflict in Transnistria, stating that Romania imposed the former Moldovan president Mircea Snegur to break out the 1992 war..

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

The Moldovan-Ukrainian relations were centered on solving the energy problems, especially the issue of price formation to the Ukrainian electric power and the issue of participation quota to the Hydroelectic Power Plant Dnestrovsk. Moldova claims a participation quota to the power plant that occupies a part of the Moldovan territory.

The visit of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Trade, Igor Dodon, to Kiev for solving these problems did not bring real results; the new negotiations will take place on May 19–21, 2008 in Kiev.

Republic of Moldova — Slovenia

In the related period, Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Andrei Stratan paid an official visit to Slovenia, the country that holds the presidency of the European Union. Andrei Stratan met few Slovenian officials, among them: France Cukjati, President of the National Assembly, Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs etc. The main subjects approached were: the Moldova-EU cooperation, in particular the future legal framework of the Moldova-EU relations; latest evolutions in the Transnistrian problem; bilateral Moldovan-Slovenian cooperation. Slovenian officials mentioned the importance for the Meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council to adopt a favorable decision of launching the reflections on the future Moldova-EU agreement, highlighting that Slovenia recognizes and supports the European perspective of Moldova. Regarding the Transnistrian subject, the Slovenian officials acclaimed the latest efforts of the Moldova leadership in settling the Transnistrian conflict, and Moldova’s consistency in promoting 5+2 negotiations format.

The Moldovan minister stressed that the cooperation with Slovenia, inclusively as the state holding the EU presidency, represents a priority for MFAEI and, as a consequence, designated a representative of the Ministry to have systematic contacts with the MFA of Slovenia, providing the necessary information regarding Moldova’s objectives in its relations with the EU.

Republic of Moldova — Azerbaijan

On April 23–24, the Moldovan President paid an official visit to Azerbaijan. According to the presidential press service, the aim of the visit was to intensify the commercial-economic cooperation between Moldova and Azerbaijan, in particular in energy and fuel domains. During the visit 3 intergovernmental collaboration agreements were signed: 1) collaboration in energy and fuel domains; 2) collaboration and the information exchange in combating the violation of the fiscal and economical legislation; 3) collaboration in the protection of intellectual property. There was also discussed the possibility to open an air route Chisinau-Baku.

Multilateral Cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

On April 14–18, the delegation of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova participated in the spring session on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) held in Strasbourg. Delegation was headed by Maria Postoico, Deputy Chairwoman of the Parliament.

On April 29, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) made public the third report on Moldova that assesses the situation in Moldova with regard to racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance for the period April 2003 — 14 December 2007. According to the report, Moldova made some progress on discrimination and intolerance, but the main problems mentioned already in the second report (from 15 April 2003) persist. Namely, these are: limitation on the freedom of religion for minority religious and Muslim groups, lack of an adequate legislation against discriminations, ongoing discrimination of Roma etc. ECRI had also expressed its concern regarding the amendments to the Moldovan law on citizenship in order to restrict the access of certain categories of citizen to public functions. ECRI shows that the amendments to the law on citizenship which disadvantage the access of Moldovan citizen with multiple citizenship to public functions compared with other Moldovan citizen, will lead to the discrimination and a differential treatment based on citizenship.

Republic of Moldova — Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)

On April 17, in Kiev was held the XVIIIth Meeting of Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). The Moldovan delegation was headed by Valeriu Ostalep, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. During the meeting, the Moldovan official mentioned that Moldova pleads for a more efficient use of the existent cooperation mechanism within the BSEC, in particular the intensification of the relations between the BSEC and the EU within the framework of the EU initiative “Black Sea Synergy”.

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