Foreign Affairs on July 16–31, 2011

European integration

Opening of negotiations concerning the EU-Moldova Common Aviation Area Agreement

During July 27–28, Chisinau hosted the first round of negotiations concerning the European Union-Republic of Moldova Common Aviation Area Agreement, after the EU Transport Council gave green light on June 16 to the European Commission to negotiate with Moldova.

The teams of negotiators were headed by Moldovan Government’s Secretary-General Victor Bodiu and Klaus Geil, Director-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission. The parties agreed that the signing of the agreement will advantage both people and air companies. The accession of Moldova to the common aviation area will enhance competitiveness in the field, diversify air services and reduce prices of air tickets, improve management of air traffic, implement European standards in air transportation sector, environment and security of passengers. The agreement will aim at gradual implementation of EU aviation rules and procedures by Moldova concomitantly with the gradual opening of the local aviation market and its integration into the common aviation area.

The press service of the Government quoted the chief negotiator on behalf of the European Commission, Mr. Klaus Geil, as saying that the accession to the common aviation area is an invitation for Moldova to join the club of European countries, which requires efforts and internal reforms, adding that the European Commission is ready to provide the necessary assistance.

The negotiations will be held in three rounds, with the next two rounds being scheduled for September and November 2011. The Moldovan Government has earlier said that it hopes to sign the agreement till the end of 2011.

Note by ADEPT: The signing of the EU-Moldova Common Aviation Area Agreement is expected to help liberalise the aviation market in Moldova, which is now dragging on, as authorities advantage a single state-owned air company, Air Moldova.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — USA

Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and US Ambassador to Moldova Asif J. Chaudhry signed several important documents in late July regarding cooperation between Moldova and the United States: the Joint Action Plan on Combating Smuggling of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials; the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy of the United States of America and the Customs Service of Moldova concerning cooperation to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive material; the assistance agreement on consolidation of law enforcement institutions.

According to the governmental press service, the joint action plan on combating smuggling in nuclear and radioactive materials stipulates 45 steps aimed to enhance the capabilities of Moldova to combat the smuggling in these materials both inside and outside of the country. The plan includes a commitment of the United States to help implementing it successfully. The Memorandum between the Customs Service of Moldova (SVRM) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provides a smaller bilateral institutional cooperation framework on prevention of smuggling in nuclear and radioactive materials. In particular, the memorandum says that the U.S. DOE will provide radiation detection equipment to be used inside of Moldova, as well as at border-crossing stations, will train SVRM officers to use this equipment, and the U.S. will provide an 8.8-million-dollar financial assistance until 2015 to help reforming the justice and strengthen law enforcement institutions.

Republic of Moldova — Poland

Polish officials visited Moldova shortly after Poland took over the EU Council Presidency. Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Jerzy Pomianowski was on a working visit to Chisinau during July 20–21 and met Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca and Deputy Ministers Natalia Gherman and Andrei Popov. According to the press service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and European Integration, talks of officials focussed on European perspective of Moldova in the framework of priorities of the Polish Presidency and preparations for the September 2011 Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw. The deputy foreign minister of Poland, Mr. Jerzy Pomianowski, stressed that Moldova shall become a key element for the safe and stable neighbourhood of EU, and the only way for Moldovan authorities is to continue reforms.

A delegation from the Polish Sejm headed by Marshall of the Sejm Grzegorz Schetyna was on a formal visit to Chisinau on July 25. The Polish delegation attended the ceremony of inauguration of the Moldovan-Polish Parliamentary Assembly, which signed the Statute of the Assembly and its Joint DeclarationRO. The Parliamentary Assembly includes 10 Polish deputies and senators and 10 Moldovan deputies. Co-chairmen of the Parliamentary Assembly are Igor Corman, head of the Moldovan parliamentary commission for foreign policy and European integration, and Andrzej Halicki, head of the commission for foreign policy of the Polish Sejm. The Moldovan-Polish Parliamentary Assembly aims to intensify parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, inclusively by sending to each other information and documents of public interest regarding legislative activity and parliamentary procedures. As well, the Polish side pledges to support in front of European institutions in general and European Parliament in particular the recognition of a clear European integration perspective of Moldova; implementation of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan during the Polish Presidency in EU; and adoption in September 2011 of the European Parliament’s Resolution containing its recommendations to the European Council, Commission and External Action Service regarding the ongoing EU-Moldova negotiations on signing of the Association Agreement.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, released a press releaseFR on July 17 to describe as inadmissible the delays in executing the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments by CoE member states. Moldova is part of the group of nine countries which raise CoE concerns and are repeatedly criticised by the CoE Parliamentary Assembly for late execution of ECHR judgments.

According to Thomas Hammarberg, a prompt, full and effective execution of the Court’s judgements is key for the effective implementation of the European Convention’s standards in domestic law. States parties do usually pay the compensation due to the victims, but they should also redress the situation of the applicants and amend legislation or change practices which encourage new violations of human rights.

The commissioner reiterated one of the CoE Committee of Ministers’ proposals (Recommendation (2008) 2) which recommends to member states that a national coordinator be appointed to follow the execution process and to keep national parliaments informed of the execution situation and the measures being taken. This measure is expected to strengthen efficiency and credibility of the European human rights system.

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