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Foreign Affairs on July 1–15, 2011

European integration

Poland — EU Council chair for next six months

Poland took over the half-yearly rotating chairmanship in the European Union Council from Hungary on July 1. The Polish chairmanship in the EU Council will focus on three priority directions the next six months:

The programme of the Polish chairmanship comes to respond to economic and security challenges and problems faced by EU member states. At the same time, enlarging the EU and giving an impulse to negotiations on association agreements with East European countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus) are strategic objectives of the Polish Chairmanship in the EU foreign policy area.

Visit of European Council president to Chisinau

European Council President Herman van Rompuy was on an official visit to Moldova on July 6, upon an invitation by Prime Minister Vlad Filat. While on visit, the EC president met Prime Minister Vlad Filat, interim President and Speaker Marian Lupu, Liberal Party leader Mihai Ghimpu, and the chairman of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin.

Meetings between the EC president and Moldovan officials focussed on political developments in Moldova, EU-Moldova relations, Transnistrian issue and Eastern Partnership. The EC president welcomed progresses made by Moldova to implement reforms and assured that EU will keep supporting reforms by applying the principle “more for more”. According to the EC president, the EU will provide 550 million Euros to Moldova in 2011–2013. On the other hand, Mr. Herman van Rompuy stressed that “the speed and quality of reforms depend much on actions of the Moldovan Parliament and authorities. All political forces shall feel in charge with finding a solution to overcome the political deadlock. Stability is a premise for any ambitious reform.”

Speaking about reforms to be implemented in Moldova, the EC president stated that “they shall be really implemented, not just under the shape of laws.” According to EU, the anti-corruption fight and the judiciary reform are now priorities to strengthen democratic processes in Moldova. Other important reforms are related to adoption of a comprehensive law against discrimination, improvement of business climate and competition and state subsidies needed to open negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone between EU and Moldova.

While meeting the parliamentary opposition the EC president was informed by PCRM leader Vladimir Voronin about critical attitude of the opposition towards actions of the Alliance for European Integration, which was accused of mimicking reforms, changing the rules during the game by modifying the legislation for own benefit, illegally assimilating foreign financial assistance, as well as of having falsified the results of local elections in Chisinau municipality. Voronon criticised the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, saying that “he has a unilateral position without perspective in relation with the opposition and government of Moldova” and he is no longer “a trustworthy partner in terms of dialogue ant comity” for PCRM. The PCRM leader asked the EC president to make “the EU cease misinformation regarding real situation in Moldova, ignorance of the opposition, stop supporting authorities fully and openly.”

7th round of negotiations on Moldova-EU Association Agreement

Brussels hosted on July 5 the 7th round of negotiations on the Association Agreement between Moldova and EU. According to a communicationRO by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI), the parties assessed a new progress in terms of negotiation of the preamble, objectives and general principles of the agreement, including institutional, general and final regulations, reaching a provisory agreement on parliamentary dimension and cooperation with civil society. Negotiations on rule of law, freedom and security have advanced. As well, the sides continued negotiations on 3 out of 24 chapters concerning the economic, sectoral and financial cooperation.

Meeting of Cooperation Platform for Moldova-EU Mobility Partnership

Chisinau hosted on July 5 the 5th meeting of the Cooperation Platform for the Moldova-EU Mobility Partnership, with the participation of the head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau, Dirk Schuebel, and the deputy minister for labour, social protection and family, Sergiu Sainciuc. According to a communication by MFAEIRO, participants in the meeting discussed the implementation and assessment of the Partnership projects in 2010–2011, as well as new initiatives to be implemented in 2011–2012 in the area of protection of families of migrants from origin countries, supported enforcement of visa facilitation and readmission agreements with EU, consolidation of Moldovan labour market, promotion of comeback of migrants, etc.

In particular, the signing of a bilateral labour migration agreement with Italy was described as a success. The agreement stipulates facilities to integrate Moldovan migrants into Italian labour market, social security advantages and introduction of circular migration schemas with Italy.

The European Commission has adopted the 2011 Annual Action Programme for Moldova

The European Commission (EC) has adopted the 2011 Annual Action Programme for Moldova on July 2011. The programme provides a financial aid worth 78.6 million euro, mainly for promoting reforms in the energy and justice sectors. According to a European Commission’s press release, on energy, the programme will promote the research into renewable energy potential in Moldova and support public awareness campaigns on energy efficiency and renewable energy. In the justice sector, the EU assistance will contribute to improve efficiency of the justice system, including the provision of advice and expertise on the creation of a Justice Sector Coordination Body. The Annual Action Programme also provides a financial aid for further confidence-building measures programme between the two banks of the Nistru River, and to continue the Framework Programme to support the Republic of Moldova in the preparation and implementation of new contractual relations with the EU (Association Agreement, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Visa Liberalisation Dialogue).

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Ukraine

After Moldova and Ukraine have succeeded to delimit the border near Palanca village, Moldovan officials started discussing a “resetting” of relations between the two states. The thawing of Moldovan-Ukrainian relations was marked by two diplomatic visits by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Gryshchenko to Chisinau and Moldova’s interim President Marian Lupu to Crimea to meet Ukrainian PresidentRU Viktor Yanukovich there.

While on working visit to Chisinau on July 7, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Gryshchenko met his Moldovan counterpart Iurie Leanca and discussed issues from agenda of bilateral relations. They included among others the implementation of agreements on highway area near Palanca village, so that not to affect the economic activity of residents there, cancellation of the obligation for Moldovan citizens to provide financial guarantees while crossing the Ukrainian border, continued demarcation of the common state border in the Transnistrian section, recognition of property rights, development of commercial-economic cooperation.

Another important issue on agenda of talks was development of cooperation between the two countries in the European integration area and in the framework of regional European initiatives. In this respect, the two foreign ministers signed a joint statement concerning cooperation in the European integration areaRO.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

On June 7, the Secretariat of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) a made public a Stocktaking report on co-operation of the Republic of Moldova with the Council of Europe. According to the report’s conclusions, Moldova seems to be on the right track to the completion of its remaining commitments towards the Council of Europe and the path of European integration. However, the CoE remains concerned about the political deadlock and urge Moldovan authorities to make efforts to reach a consensus that will unlock the stalemate. Besides, CoE recommends authorities to finalise and implement a number of important reforms, such as: 1) reform of the judiciary system and law enforcement structures; 2) the transfer of the responsibility for pre-trial detention centres from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Justice; 3) ratification of the European Chart of Regional and Minatory Languages; 4) adoption of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law.

The report also presents the priorities for future co-operation between the Council of Europe and Moldova. The CoE will continue to provide pre-electoral assistance and support the reform of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, the implementation of the local autonomy and decentralization process, and confidence building measures between the two sides of the Nistru River.

Decisions of European Court for Human Rights (ECHR)

ECHR pronounced decisions on cases Avram and others vs. Moldova, Dan vs. Moldova and Haritonov vs. Moldova in the first half of July.

The Court indicated violation of the right to private life and family in the case Avram and others vs. Moldova and granted 23,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 1,500 Euros in costs and expenses to the applicants.

In the case Dan vs. Moldova the ECHR indicated violation of the right to a fair trial and granted 2,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 3,000 Euros in costs and expenses to the applicant.

In the case Haritonov vs. Moldova the Court indicated violation of the right not to be tortured or treated in an inhuman way and granted 4,000 Euros in non-pecuniary damages and 1,200 Euros in costs and expenses to the applicant.

June 16–30, 2011 July 16–31, 2011