Foreign Affairs on July 1–15, 2008

European Integration

European Commission to provide Moldova with assistance worth 40 million euros

On July 2, Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii and Marcus Conaro, Head of the EuropeAid Directorate of the European Commission, signed four funding agreements which will provide Moldova with grants worth 40 million euros overall for the next three years. The assistance will be provided within the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) of the European Commission, which substitutes the former TACIS programme. The EC assistance will be directed to four programmes: budgetary support for reforming the social sector (21 million euro); impoving border management (11 million euros); technical assistance and twinning (6 million euros); supporting civil society in the Transnistrian region (2 million euros).

European Integration Agenda. Priorities for 2008

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has recently published on its website a list of priorities for 2008RO, which will be the basis of the European Integration Agenda of Moldova instead of the EU-Moldova Action Plan expired in February 2008. According to the document, the list of priorities covers 5 areas in which Moldova has made more than modest progress, as for the latest progress reportRO by the European Commission. These areas are: the rule of law, freedom of the media, human rights, anti-corruption fight and investment climate. However, it assures that reforms in areas of successful cooperation with the EU (transborder cooperation, migration, asylum, etc.) will be implemented in continuation in 2008, but on the basis of action plans of competent institutions. In addition, the document includes an action plan to speed up reforms in the five problematic areas.

Note by ADEPT: Some actions stipulated by the European Integration Agenda are generalised and they often do not cover the real problems of the area concerned (for example, actions aimed at conolidating the editorial independence of TeleRadio-Moldova or actions to ensure respect for human rights, etc).

First round of informal consultations on new Moldovan-community legal framework

Chisinau hosted on July 8, 2008 the first round of informal consultations at level of experts with representatives of the European Commission. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide any details about the results of consultations, but they aimed to share visions regarding general principles and objectives of the new Moldovan-community legal framework which will exceed the present Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

France takes over EU Council Presidency

On July 1, France took over the EU Council Presidency for July-December 2008. The programme of the French EU Council Presidency, which French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented to the European Parliament on July 10, 2008, will focus on settling problems in the following ares: 1) energy and climate change (by encouraging the adoption of legislative initiatives on reduction of CO2 emissions by 20 percent until 2020); 2) migration (by harmonising migration policies of 27 EU member states); 3) agriculture; 4) security and defence (by consolidating the military capacity of EU). In addition, France will look for solutions to the institutional crisis in EU occured after Ireland has turned down the Lisbon treaty and worsened even more by statements of Poland and German presidents to postpone the promulgation of the law on ratification of this treaty. Consolidating the international EU role is an unchanged priority of the precedent EU Council presidencies and French chair. In this respect, France focusses on the Medditeranean region and Western Balkans and less on the eastern dimension in terms of relations with EU neighbours.

Note by ADEPT: The Republic of Moldova is not even mentioned in the chapter dedicated to plans of the French presidency regarding the eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

The “frozen” relations between Moldova and Romania have “thawed” a little in the period concerned, with the official visit by Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu to Chisinau on July 7 being a proof. During his visit, the Romanian minister has discussed with Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan and President Vladimir Voronin. According to presidential and ministerial press releases, the talks focussed on basic aspects of bilateral cooperation, cooperation on European and regional dimension between Moldova and Romania, and Transnistrian conflict. As regards the European integration of Moldova, Lazar Comanesu assured that Romania will continue supporting Moldova’s European integration requests “in quality of equal partner exclusively” and it will do its best to make the EU finish reflections on the new Moldova-EU legal framework by the end of 2008. Also, the sides tackled problematic issues between the two countries: the signing of the border treaty and basic treaty between Moldova and Romania, but other details in this respect are unavailable. However, the Foreign Ministry has said in a press release shortly after Comanescu’s visit to Chisinau that the Romanian official and President Voronin have agreed on opening of Moldovan and Romanian consulates in Iasi and Cahul in a near future. It noted that consulates in Balti and Constanta will open depending on “reciprocal readiness of the sides to finish negotiations and get ready to sign the Moldova-Romania state border treaty, which will open real perspectives for the further signing of the Convention on small border traffic.” The ministry noted that it has sent a report on these topics to the Romanian Foreign Ministry.

Note by ADEPT. The ministerial press release does not make clear if the same context is needed to open consulates in Iasi and Cahul.

Romania simplifies transit regime

Romania introduces a simplified transit regime starting July 11, 2008. This decision comes as Romania is applying Decision 582/2008/EC and Decision 586/2008/EC of the European Parliament and Council from June 17, 2008. Thus, citizens of third countries who are required visas will be allowed to transit Romania for maximum 5 days without being required Romanian transit visas B:

If they hold the following documents issued by EU member states which apply the Schengen acquis (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Hungary), as well as by Denmark, Iceland, Norway: “uniform visa” Schengen; “long-term visa” Schengen; “stay permit”.
If they hold a valid short-term visa, a long-term visa or a stay permit issued by Bulgaria and Cyprus.
If they hold a valid stay permit issued by Switzerland or Liechtenstein.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

Visit by PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig

The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Lluis Maria de Puig, was on a formal visit to Moldova on July 6–9, 2008 and had meetings with President Vladimir Voronin, Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii, Speaker Marian Lupu, Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, representatives of civil society, and addressed the Parliament. Unlike other visits by PACE delegations, the visit of Lluis Maria de Puig was marked by a less diplomatic speech, criticising the slow democratic reforms and existing practices which halt the functioning of the judicial system and prosecutor-general’s office, independence of the media and true local autonomy and efficient fight against corruption. The PACE president stressed among others, while addressing the Moldovan Parliament that 13 years of Council of Europe monitoring on Moldova is a long enough period to implement consistent democratic reforms, and Moldova should already succeed to the post-monitoring stage which would provide it with real chances to join the European Union. PACE backs Moldova’s European integration option, but the accession to EU will depend much on Moldova’s political willingness. Therefore, Lluis Maria de Puig continued, Moldovan authorities shall insist in implementing European values and standards and accelerate democratic reforms. In this context, the PACE president stressed that the next parliamentary elections in 2009 will be another test to prove the existence of a democratic system in Moldova, and these elections shall be free and fair both on and after elections by ensuring a favourable social and political climate for a free and genuine choice of elector. The Transnistrian conflict was another topic tackled during the visit by PACE president to Chisinau. PACE insists on resolution of this problem by respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova and resuming the 5+2 negotiation process. At the same time, PACE recommends that any proposed solution shall be minutely considered and discussed with all participating sides from Moldova, with international mediators and observers.

ECHR decisions

On July 1, 2008, the European Court of Human Rights sentenced Moldova in the Flux (nr. 5) vs. Moldova case for violation of freedom of expression. The Court told Moldova to pay 185 euros in pecuniary damages, 3,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages and 1,800 euros in costs and expenses.

On July 7, 2008, the Strasbourg-based Court turned down an application by Moldovan Government to resend to the Big Chamber the February 12, 2008 ECHR decision on Oferta Plus SRL vs. Moldova. Therefore, the February 12, 2008 ECHR decision which obliges Moldova to pay 2,535,104 euros to Oferta Plus SRL until October 7, 2008 is effective.

Republic of Moldova — GUAM

On July 1, 2008 Batumi, Georgia, hosted the 3^rd summit of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development — GUAM (ODED — GUAM), which brought together presidents of Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan and participants from 25 countries and international organisations. Moldova was represented by interior minister. The summit adopted the Batumi declaration “GUAM — Unifying East Europe” signed by presidents of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Lithuania and Poland. The statement reiterates the accession of states to democratic values, human rights and freedoms, rule of law, maintenance of spiritual and cultural heritage of people and consolidation of tolerance.

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