Foreign Affairs on April 2–15, 2011

European integration

Moldova — EU COEST Troika meeting

On April 1, 2011 the meeting of Troika of the EU Council Working Group for Relations with Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) EU-RM was held in Brussels. According to a press releaseRO of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MFA), at the meeting Moldovan delegation, headed by Natalia Gherman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has made a presentation on the actions taken by Moldovan Government in fulfilling its commitments towards EU. The parties discussed the preparations for the meeting of EU-Moldova Cooperation Council to be held on May 5, 2011. The meeting also approached the issue of launching the negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the need to identify a timetable for negotiations and the need for coordinating the implementation of the Action Plan on liberalization of visa regime. The officials also discussed the development of the process to review the European Neighbourhood Policy in the context of preparation for the Eastern Partnership Summit, which will be held this autumn.

The sixth round of negotiations on EU-Moldova Association Agreement

The sixth round of negotiations on the EU-Moldova Association Agreement was held in Chisinau on 11 April 2011.The delegations were led by Natalia Gherman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Chief Negotiator of the Association Agreement, and Miroslav Lajcak, Executive Director for Europe and Central Asia in the European Service for External Action, EU Chief Negotiator. Following the negotiations, progress was made concerning the preamble, objectives and principles, the general and final provisions. There have been provisionally closed the negotiations on all issues related to political dialogue and reforms, cooperation in foreign and security policy and inter-human relations and the negotiations were completed on the chapter of regional stability. In case of the chapter of Justice, Freedom and Security, the parties have agreed on the provisions “the rule of law”, “human rights”, “protection of personal data”, “fighting corruption” etc. The provision on free movement of persons is conditioned by the evolution of EU-Moldova dialogue on liberalization of visa regime, and the final version of the provision will be included in the Agreement following the completion of that dialogue. Besides, there have been provisionally closed 21 out of 24 chapters of the chapter of Economic Sectoral and Financial Cooperation. The parties signed a Progress Report on the negotiation of the Association Agreement, which will be presented at the meeting of EU-Moldova Cooperation Council on 5 May 2011. The next round of negotiations will take place in June 2011 in Brussels.

EU Council approves the EU Strategy for Danube region

On 15 April the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union approved the EU Strategy for Danube Region .The strategy concerns 8 EU member states and 6 non-EU countries (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Ukraine and Moldova). Preparations for the implementation of the Strategy are ongoing. About 200 priority actions are planned aimed at improving environmental conditions and develop regional economic potential. Strategy does not provide for any additional funds, but the use of existing funds provided under the EU cohesion policy.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Romania

On April 12, Moldovan Minister of Culture, Boris Focsa, and Romanian Minister of Culture and Cultural Heritage, Kelemen Hunor, have signed a cooperation agreementRO between the two ministries. The agreement will provide strategic and legal framework for collaboration among cultural institutions in both countries and for development of common cultural projects.

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

On April 7–8, Andrei Popov, Moldovan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, was in a visit to Kiev, where he attended the ordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS member states. In Kiev, Moldovan Deputy Foreign Minister had several bilateral meetings with Ukrainian officials: Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, Yevgeny Mikitenko, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Rada Foreign Relations Committee, Leonid Kojara, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Rada Committee for National Security and Defence, Sergey Grinevetsky. According to MFA press releaseRO, the main issue within bilateral discussions has been the perspective of resolving bilateral problems, especially the mutual acknowledgement of properties and completion of the process on demarcation of Moldovan-Ukrainian border. According to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press releaseUA, the parties have also agreed on an algorithm of future actions to address these problems. However, being more than dry, the press releases of both foreign ministries did not disclose other details about the actions to be undertaken and any period when they will be fulfilled. We may only assume that due to the least popular character of actions of land transfer in the area of Palanca village to Ukraine the Chisinau authorities will delay solving these problems for the period after the local elections of 5 April 2011, when they will be less vulnerable before political opposition.

Republic of Moldova — Russia

A week after the visit of Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iurie Leanca, in Moscow and the meeting he had with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on April 5, Moldovan Ambassador to Russia, Andrei Neguta, was summonedRU by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, Grigory Karasin. Officials have discussed the further development of bilateral political dialogue and in particular the fulfilment of commitments assumed by the Republic of Moldova and Russia at the meeting between foreign ministers of both countries. Although neither Moldovan nor the Russian authorities have not express themselves on these commitments, from the declarations of the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, we can deduce that these commitments concern granting a special status to Transnistrian region within the Republic of Moldova, transformation of the peacekeeping mission into one with international mandate, extension of the current Basic Treaty between Moldova and Russian Federation, which expires this year.

Republic of Moldova — France

On 12–14 April, Prime Minister Vlad Filat paid a working visit to France where he met with several French officials: Francois Fillon, French Prime Minister, Bernard Accoyer, Speaker of the National Assembly of French Republic, Jean- François Cope, Secretary General of the Union of People’s Movement (UMP), members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of France, Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), etc. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a group of businessmen who had meetings with French companies in the Association of French businessmen.

France is a state that traditionally is reluctant towards eventual EU enlargement. Lately, on the background of popular movements of the Maghreb states, the traditional French reluctance was supplemented by the statements on the need to change the emphasis in the European Neighbourhood Policy and the redirection of EU funds from the East to South. In this situation, the visit of Prime Minister has sought not only to boost political dialogue and trade cooperation with France, but also to obtain the France’ support for Moldova’ European integration process.

During the meetings with European officials, Moldovan Prime Minister stressed that current governance in Chisinau aims to propel Moldova to the level of regional leader in reforms. According to the Prime Minister, Moldova’s objective is to become an example and a regional leader in implementing democratic reforms, economic growth, observance of human rights, and getting closer to EU for Moldova means an opportunity to spread out the European values to East.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon pointed out that Moldova’s rapprochement to the EU should take place in a natural way, without attempts to delay or accelerate this process. Moldova’s accession to the EU will depend on the pace of internal reforms and the maintenance of political stability. French officials explained their support for the settlement of Transnistrian problem.

During discussions with French officials the Transnistrian problem has been also addressed. Prime Minister Vlad Filat presented the position of Moldova on Transnistrian settlement, pointing out that “now is a favourable time for solving the Transnistrian problem. However, the conflict settlement process requires a strong political impetus from outside”.

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