Foreign Affairs on May 1–15, 2011

European integration

Sitting of the European Union — Republic of Moldova Cooperation Council

Brussels hosted the 13^th sitting of the European Union — Republic of Moldova Cooperation Council on May 5, 2011, which welcomed progresses, achieved by Moldova on European route last year and set directory lines future Moldova-EU cooperation. The Moldovan delegation included Prime Minister Vlad Filat, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca, Deputy Foreign Minister Natalia Gherman, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Eugen Carpov, Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmîc, Deputy Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim, the deputy head of the European Integration Department of the Foreign Ministry, Eugen Caras, and the head of the Moldovan diplomatic mission to the European Union, Daniela Cujba. The sitting of the Cooperation Council approved the second progress report on negotiation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement and discussed Moldova’s European bids in the framework of the process of revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Conclusions of the Cooperation Council have been presented in an EU press release:

The Cooperation Council recalled the importance of respecting the democratic standards and the rule of, and of creating an atmosphere of inclusiveness, in finding a way out of the current political deadlock about the election of the president of the country;
The Cooperation Council hoped that the local elections of June 5, 2011 will show further progress towards compliance with international standards;
The Cooperation Council expressed its appreciation for Moldovan Government’s comprehensive reform and its pro-active consultations with the EU and other donors on how best to assist such reforms. At the same time, the EU stressed the importance of implementing and deepening the reforms launched in the area of fight against corruption, the improvement of the business climate and in the area of justice, freedom and security;
The EU expressed full support for Moldovan Government’s efforts to meet its international commitments to macro-economic stabilisation. The EU welcomed the release of the third tranche under the IMF Extended Credit Facility/Extended Funding Facility Arrangements and announced its intention to launch the preparatory steps for a second disbursement of EU macro-financial assistance;
The EU welcomed Moldova’s strengthened cooperation in the area of foreign and security policy. It also stressed its engagement in the Transnistria settlement efforts including through continued EUBAM support and confidence-building measures.

Zsolt Németh, minister of state for foreign affairs of Hungary and head of the European Union Delegation, told a news conference after the meeting that the European Union’s Neighbourhood Policy needs success stories and cooperation with Moldova can be regarded as one. The EU hopes that Moldova will keep playing this role. According to the European official, the rapid negotiation of the Association Agreement and positive evolutions in sectoral areas will allow the opening of the chapter on building a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and agreement on the European Common Aviation Area in the near future. Speaking about Transnistrian conflict, Mr. Németh said that the 5+2 format is the only negotiation way accepted by EU to settle the Transnistrian problem and EU hopes that the talks ceased five years ago will be resumed in June 2011.

Štefan Füle, European commissioner for enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, stated the conclusions of the Cooperation Council, stressing that Moldova achieved an encouraging and impressive progress last year, but the EU expects more accomplishments after the June 5 local elections. Moldova is expected to strengthen democratic achievements and intensify reforms against corruption, build a favourable business environment, make up progress in the field of jurisdiction and police. Mr. Füle underlined the importance of regional cooperation for Moldova, particularly for the Transnistrian issue, inviting Moldova to keep deep relations with Ukraine.

Launch of the EU-Moldova Forum

The EU-Moldova Forum, an initiative of the Moldova’ Mission to the European Communities initiated in December 2009 has been officially launched on May 4, 2011 in Brussels. The Forum intends to provide a permanent and multidimensional platform for communication and cooperation between the civil society, business community and personalities from the Republic of Moldova and the European Union interested to support Moldova’ s European integration efforts. Moldovan prime-minister, Vlad Filat, Director for Russia, Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans in the European External Action Service, Miroslav Lajčák, the representative of the European partnership for Democracy, Markus Meckel and the director of the East-Europe Foundation in Moldova, Sorin Mereacre have participated in the opening of the forum.

One step closer towards the launch of negotiations on the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Moldova

On May 2, the European Commission presented to the Council and the European Parliament a communication on development of the common aviation area between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. In the communication, the Commission argues the decision to extend the Single European Sky to Moldova by benefits of signing the agreement, such as: more enhanced aviation security standards, established fair competition conditions for all EU carriers, increased air traffic between the EU and Moldova, improved and diversified air transport services for both, Moldovan and EU citizens. In conclusion, the Commission invites the Council to authorize the mandate for initiate the negotiations and conclude a comprehensive open aviation agreement with Moldova. The mandate would be based on two components: 1) market opening and liberalization, and 2) regulatory harmonisation of safety and security standards beyond the EU borders. The negotiations will be conducted by the Commission services, fully involving the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Moldova to participate in EURONEST

Brussels hosted on May 3 the inaugural meeting of the EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly, a new institutionalized platform for parliamentary cooperation between Eastern Partnership’s member states Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and temporarily suspended Belarus and the European Parliament (EP). EuroNest aims to speed up economic integration and political dialogue between EU and Eastern Partnership.

The EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly will be made of 60 European parliamentarians and by 10 members of national parliaments from Eastern Partnership member states, and will be co-chaired by Kristian Vigenin on behalf of EP and Ukrainian Borys Tarasyuk on behalf of Eastern Partnership member states. EuroNest will have eight deputy chairpersons: four on behalf of EP and by one on behalf of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova. Moldova is represented by Igor Corman, chairman of the parliamentary commission for foreign policy and European integration.

The inaugural sitting approved procedural rules, set up two task forces (to hold dialogue with Belarus and work out procedural rules) and built four committees for the four platforms of the Eastern Partnership: the committee on political affairs and human rights, democracy, the committee on economic integration, convergence with EU policies and harmonisation of legislation, the committee on energy security, and the committee on social affairs, education, culture and civil society. Some committees will be led by Moldovan parliamentarians. Veaceslav Ionita will be co-chairman of the committee on economic integration, Boris Vieru was nominated deputy chairman of the committee on social affairs, education, culture and civil society, and Dumitru Diacov was appointed co-chairman of the task force for dialogue with Belarus.

Sittings of committees on assessment of Readmission and Visa Facilitation Agreements

The EU-Moldova committees on assessment of the Readmission Agreement and Visa Facilitation Agreement held meetings in Brussels on May 12. According to a communication by MFAEIRO, the meetings assessed the implementation of agreements by EU member states, discussed individual cases of violation of agreements and considered solutions. The committee observed a rise in the number of visas issued last year.

The first round of negotiations on amendment of the Visa Facilitation Agreement took place after the meetings. The renegotiation of the agreement means for Moldova more visa issuance facilities for its citizens and adjustment to regulations of the new EU Visa Code. Next round of negotiations will take place in Chisinau in July.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

The commercial conflict between Ukraine and Moldova broken out in 2010 is developing. On May 12 Ukraine sent a new letter to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and asked the WTO secretary to set up an expert commission with the purpose to settle the commercial dispute, as the Moldovan side avoids any consultations on this issue. The only round of consultations took place in Geneva last March.

It is worth to note that the Ukrainian ambassador in Chisinau, Sergei Pirozhkov, met Moldovan Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar on May 13 and discussed the current situation and prospects of bilateral commercial-economic relations, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy in ChisinauRU. A few days before, on May 10, Sergei Pirozhkov had a meetingRU with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Popov and discussed situation related to resolution of Moldovan-Ukrainian problems, particularly regarding demarcation of the state border between the two states. The Ukrainian ambassador confirmed the readiness of his country to intensify dialogue with Moldova in all fields of bilateral cooperation, as well as those relating to settlement of bilateral issues.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — NATO

The National Commission for the implementation of the Moldova-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and the NATO International Secretariat held a joint sitting on May 13, 2011. According to a communication by MFAEIRO, the meeting assessed the implementation of IPAP, exposed Moldova’s priorities in implementing IPAP and enlarging cooperation with NATO in the framework of IPAP. NATO experts welcomed progresses achieved by Moldovan authorities in implementing IPAP but noted that the National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy, directory documents on national security and defense sector, were not adopted yet.

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

Istanbul hosted the 121^st annual session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 11. Moldova was represented by Iurie Leanca, first deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and European integration.

The meeting agenda included several topics related to:

The reformation of the European institution — presentation of a report by CoE Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland;
the European Convention on Human Rights and reformation of the European Court for Human Rights;

Participants called for more decisive actions aimed to provide an efficient mechanism for supervision of the European Convention on Human Rights and welcomed results of the Izmir Conference on reformation of the European Court for Human Rights.

The release of the Living Together in 21st Century Europe Report by the Group of Eminent Persons

The report presented by Javier Solana rounds up current challenges related to protection of human rights in Europe and provides solutions to handle them in accordance with good and efficient practices implemented in Europe.

The Neighbourhood Policy of the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe’s new Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence has been opened for signature on the occasion of the 121^st Session of the of Committee of Ministers. The Convention is the first legally binding instrument in the world creating a comprehensive legal framework to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention also establishes an international mechanism to monitor its implementation at national level.

Ukraine took over the rotating Presidency in the CoE Committee of Ministry for a six-month term (May-November 2011). The Ukrainian Presidency will focus on 3 priorities: 1) protection of the child rights; 2) human rights and supremacy of law in the framework of democracy and stability in Europe; 3) strengthening and developing local democracy.

Besides participation in the Session of the Committee of Ministers, Iurie Leanca had meetings with his counterparts from Norway, Croatia, Serbia, Ireland, Cyprus, Spain, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, and discussed ways to extend bilateral relations, issues related to the European integration of our country and Transnistrian conflict.

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