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Foreign Affairs on December 1–15, 2010

European integration

Action Plan to implement the European Commission’s recommendations for the establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)

On December 2, the Government approved the Action Plan to implement the European Commission’s recommendations for the establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the Republic of Moldova and European Union. The Action Plan was drafted by the Ministry of Economy, based on the recommendations made by an assessment mission of the European Commission experts, which took place on May 31 — June 2, 2010 in Chisinau. The recommendations refer to 13 areas of the national economy in order to approximate and adjust them to the European legislation:

The actions provided by the plan will be implemented both from budgetary resources and with the European Union’s financial support.

ADEPT Note: Although it was approved on December 2, 2010, the Action Plan is not yet available on any one of the Government Web sites, thus violating the legislation on decision transparency.

The Second Ministerial Meeting of the Eastern Partnership

On December 13, Brussels hosted the Second Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of EU Member States and Eastern Partnership (EP) states. The meeting aimed to discuss the results obtained during the last year in implementing the Eastern Partnership and to prepare the agenda for the EP Summit to be held in May 2011, in Budapest. The discussions focused on the report prepared by the European Commission. Discussing about EP priorities for the foreseeable future, the Ministers stressed the need for further negotiation of Association Agreements, including on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas, and / or Institutional Reform Plans. They also mentioned the fields that need further development within the EP, such as improving sectoral cooperation, facilitating the participation of the EP states to the EU programs, strengthening cooperation in the conflict prevention and resolution area, strengthening the role of civil society, easing the mobility for students, researchers and business people in the EU space. At the meeting, the representatives of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum presented to the Ministers the recommendations adopted at Berlin Forum.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Russia

On December 4–5, the head of Russia’s presidential administration, Sergei Naryshkin, paid a visit to Chisinau, during which he met the Acting President of Moldova Mihai Ghimpu, PDM and PCRM leaders, Marian Lupu and Vladimir Voronin, respectively. Sergei Naryshkin did not meet PLDM leader Vlad Filat. This visit was an electoral one, to mediate the dialogue between PDM and PCRM leaders in establishing a pro-Russian governing coalition. Some political parties have criticized the Russian official’s visit, qualifying it as interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova. In reply Russian Ambassador to Moldova, Valery KuzminRU assured that the visit of Sergei Naryshkin is a prove of interest Moscow has in overcoming the political crisis in Moldova, stressing that “any power that will rule in the Republic of Moldova is convicted to have good relations with Russian Federation”, as a result of the interest Moldova has in Russian retail markets, in Russian energy resources and employment of many Moldovan citizens that work in Russian Federation.

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

Two weeks after the incident occurred at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border on November 15, when Ukrainian authorities, unilaterally, removed the border signs near Palanca village, Moldovan-Ukrainian consultations were held on this topic in Chisinau. The consultations were attended by the representatives of the EU Border Assistance Mission at the border between Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM). The parties discussed the ways to solve the problem and agreed that a joint group of experts would carry out a field visit, and in the second half of January 2010 to hold the meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Moldovan Border Demarcation Commission.

However, Palanca territorial issues are far from being solved. Although in June 2010, after some Moldovan-Ukrainian consultations, the parties agreed on the draft Act on establishing the land borders of the plot land transferred to Ukrainian property and located in the Moldovan territory, crossed by the highway Odessa — Reni near Palanca village, the Ukrainian authorities also insist upon the alienation of the land situated under the highway Odessa — Reni, an act that contravene to the Constitution of Moldova. After Timoshenko Government renounced to its intention to influence Chisinau to alienate this land, by imposing a requirement to Moldovan citizens to present a compulsory sum of money at the entry in Ukraine, the new power in Kiev seems to be less friendly and open for negotiations in this regard. On December 16, 2010, Odessa regional council, upon the proposal made by a member of the council of the Party of Regions, adopted the decision to ask President Viktor YanukovichRU (the leader of the Party of Regions) to terminate the agreement by which Ukraine transferred to Moldova the land on which Giurgiulesti port was built, reasoning that Ukraine has not received yet the land under the highway Odessa-Reni.

At the same time, the recent statements and decisions by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich regarding foreign policy of Ukraine prove that the new government in Kiev wants to strengthen Ukraine’s position in the region. On December 14, Viktor Yanukovich signed a decree asking Foreign Ministry to draft the priorities of Ukraine as regards foreign policy till 2015 and to develop a strategy on Ukraine’s relations with Moldova and Romania in order to address bilateral issues in favour of Ukrainian national interest. According to a statement by Ukrainian PresidentRU “These countries (Romania and the Republic of Moldova) should feel that the time of an apathetic Ukraine passed and should start to look at Ukraine with new eyes … a big, strong and perspective state that is profitable and useful to be friendly with”.

November 15–30, 2010 December 16–31, 2010