Foreign Affairs on September 1–30, 2011

European integration

First plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly

The first plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (Euronest PA) officially established in Brussels on May 3, 2011 took place in Strasbourg on September 14–15, 2011. Moldova was represented by Deputies Igor Corman, Dumitru Diacov (PLDM), Veaceslav Ionita, Tudor Deliu (PLDM), and Boris Vieru (PL). Although the delegation from the Parliament of Moldova to Euronest is made of 10 deputies, including 4 on behalf of PCRM, none of them attended the Euronest PA session. The plenary session was preceded by meetings of the 4 parliamentary committees of Euronest: the Committee on Economic Integration, Legal Approximation and Convergence with EU Policies; the Committee on Energy Security; the Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy; the Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society. The ordinary session was marked by animosities between delegations of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, so that no consensus regarding the adoption of declarations on Belarus and the resolution containing recommendations for the Eastern Partnership Summit included into the preliminary agenda of the session was finally reached. This fact made experts who attended the session describe the Euronest projectPL, designed to be a forum capable to encourage parliamentary, multilateral dialogue, as failure of the European Parliament.

European Parliament Resolution on the negotiations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova on the Association Agreement

The European Parliament approved a Resolution on the negotiations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova on the Association Agreement on September 15, 2011. The Resolution addresses a number of recommendations to the Council, Commission and European External Action Service (EEAS) on the content of the future Association Agreement RM-EU, but also on the attitude the European institutions should take in the political dialogue with Moldova about the key subjects for bringing Moldova closer to the EU, such as Transnistrian conflict, respect for human rights, fighting corruption, judicial reform etc.

Out of more than 45 recommendations to the European institutions, the following 10 worth mentioning:

to base the EU engagement and ongoing negotiations with the Republic of Moldova on the assertion that the EU perspective, including Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union, which should go hand in hand with the implementation of structural reforms, is both a valuable lever in the implementation of reforms and necessary catalyst for public support for these reforms;
to maintain strong pressure on the Moldovan authorities, coupled with support, to consolidate reforms and achieve tangible progress in the fight against corruption, reform of judicial, prosecution and police services to the benefit of the people;
to include standard conditionality clauses on protection and promotion of human rights reflecting the highest international and European standards, and to encourage the Moldovan authorities to promote the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, in compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities and of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;
to assist the Moldovan authorities so that they can make concrete progress in the eradication of ill-treatment and torture by law-enforcement bodies;
to encourage the Moldovan authorities to adopt comprehensive and effective anti-discrimination legislation, such legislation should include provisions against discrimination based on sexual orientation;
to ensure that the promotion of the values of free media remain a priority in the ongoing negotiations with the Republic of Moldova and to encourage the Moldovan authorities to strengthen and support independent media, to ensure the neutrality of the public media and promote a pluralistic media environment which will increase the transparency of the decision-making process; to encourage the Moldovan authorities to ensure that all responsible agencies in the field of the media comply with EU standards on media freedom and pluralism;
to emphasize to the Moldovan authorities the need to liberalise air traffic services;
to encourage the Moldovan authorities to demonstrate greater commitment to the transparent management of public finances and the improvement of public procurement legislation;
to ensure that negotiations on a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area begin by the end of 2011 and at the same time to assess the impact of the DCFTA on the Moldovan economy, as well as its social and environmental repercussions;
to redouble efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Transnistrian conflict and, to that end, to envisage a more robust and direct involvement in the political settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, as well as to adopt confidence-building measures.

First progress report on implementation of Visa Liberalisation Action Plan

The European Commission published the First progress report of the implementation by the Republic of Moldova of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation (hereafter APVL) on September 19. The report ascertains progress in adopting legislation in 3 out of 4 blocks of APVL: a) irregular immigration, including readmission1; b) public order and security; c) external relations and fundamental rights. As regards the block on document security, including biometrics, the European Commission states that although there is a legislative framework in place, a number of actions planned in APVL were not implemented. Nevertheless, the European Commission concludes that Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation is an important tool in advancing reforms in the justice and home affairs area and beyond. The report reflects the state of play until 8 July 2011. The next progress report will be developed by the end of 2011.

Sittings of working groups in charge with coordinating processes during Moldova-EU dialogue

Working groups in charge with coordinating cooperation during Moldova-EU dialogue convened in several sittings in Chisinau in September. The working group in charge with coordinating cooperation with the European Union in the area of Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) held a sitting on September 16 and considered Moldova’s capacities to participate in EU CSDP missions and set prospects of cooperation with EU in the area concerned.

A sitting of the working groupRO in charge with the visa liberalisation with EU took place on September 21, with the participation of law enforcement and security institutions. The meeting reviewed progresses made in the first round of adjustment of national laws on justice and interior affairs of the Action Plan and set priorities for October-November 2011.

An enlarged meeting of the working group in charge with the visa liberalization with EU (with participation of representatives of international organizations and NGOs) took place on September 23 and discussed last evolutions in implementing the Visa Liberalization Action Plan and possible indicators to assess the migration impact of liberalized visas for Moldovan citizens on EU.

Second Eastern Partnership Summit

The Second Eastern Partnership Summit took place in Warsaw, Poland, on September 29–30, 2011. The summit was initially scheduled for May 2011, when Hungary chaired the EU Council, but was further postponed for September 2011, because other important international events were set for the same period.

After two years since the launching of the Eastern Partnership the Warsaw summit reviewed the achievements of EaP partner states to respect European norms, standards and values. However, the absence of representatives of Belarus at the summit, as well as many accusations of human rights violations brought against Belarus and Ukraine during the summit proved that the European initiative aimed to promote democracy, good governance and stability in close EU neighbourhood is far away from reaching its purposes.

The summit was attended by 32 delegations from EaP partners and EU member states led by heads of states or governments. The participants adopted a joint summit declaration, revising commitments towards the EaP’s goals and agreeing that the EaP must be significantly strengthened, and committing to stepping up its implementation, with the purpose of building a common area of democracy, prosperity, stability and increased interactions and exchanges.

The declaration describes progresses made by the six EaP partner countries the last two years and sets priorities in the following three areas for the next years: 1) a deeper engagement: political association, socio-economic integration and stability; 2) participation in EU programmes and agencies and enhanced sector cooperation; 3) strengthening of multilateral cooperation. As expected, the declaration does not contain any express reference to the future accession of partner states to the European Union, which is so expected by Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities. Instead, it recognises that EaP partners have different aspirations, necessities and capacities, and notes that the political association and economic integration with EU, as well as the size of European assistance will be conditioned with countries’ results in implementing internal reforms.

The declaration rates Moldova and Ukraine as countries which made the greatest progresses in negotiating Association Agreements. Both countries are already implementing Visa Liberalisation Action Plans. Ukraine has plans to sign a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU by December 2011, while Moldova intends to begin negotiations by the end of this year. At the same time, both countries joined the Energy Community Treaty and are negotiating the Common Aviation Area Agreement. According to the declaration, Association Agendas will be set in the EaP framework with the purpose to facilitate the implementation of Association Agreements. They will focus on key cooperation areas and will include reference indicators to monitor the progress of countries.

The EU heads of states and governments signed a special declaration during the summit and condemned violations of human rights in Belarus. The five EaP partner states did not want to sign the declaration or to openly criticise Belarus.

Following the EaP summit, the EaP Business Forum was launched in Sopot, Poland, on September 30 to assist the negotiation of Association Agreements and DCFTA and build competitive and inclusive economies in EaP partner states.

Bilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — Finland, Sweden and Norway

A governmental and business delegation headed by Moldovan Premier Vlad Filat was on an official visit to Finland, Sweden and Norway during September 11–14. While on visit, the prime minister met his counterparts and attended bilateral economic forums in the three countries.

According to a communication by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store signed a visa facilitation agreement between Moldova and Norway on September 14. Under the agreement, some categories of citizens such as schoolchildren, students, journalists, civil society representatives, long-route drivers, athletes will enjoy a facilitated visa regime for a 90-day stay.

Republic of Moldova — Poland

Being a founder of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), Poland as chair of the EU Council tried to promote on its agenda the development of bilateral cooperation and with EU with eastern states. As a result, a large Moldovan delegation made of officials, NGO representatives and businesspersons attended an Economic Forum in Krynica on September 7–8. Premier Vlad Filat was nominated “The Man of The Year” during the forum, a nomination awarded every year for outstanding accomplishments which had a great influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Filat had bilateral meetings with Polish Premier Donal Tusk, European Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, the World Bank director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, Martin Raiser, and the chairman of the Krynica Economic Forum, Zygmunt Berdychowski. Talks with European Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski focussed on the European perspective of Moldova, evolution of the Moldova-EU dialogue, and budgetary policy of Moldova.

Also in September, Chisinau hosted the first meeting of the Moldova-Poland Parliamentary Assembly’s Bureau, co-chaired by Igor Corman, chairman of the Moldovan parliamentary commission for foreign policy and European integration, and Andrzej Halicki, chairman of the commission for foreign affairs of the Polish Sejm. The meeting discussed issues relating to inter-parliamentary cooperation in the framework of European integration of Moldova, preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit, social-political condition in both countries, and agenda of the next meeting.

Republic of Moldova — Czech Republic

The deputy foreign minister of the Czech Republic, Tomas Dub, was on a working visit to Chisinau on September 28 and introduced to his Moldovan counterpart Natalia Gherman provisions of the Development Cooperation Programme for 2011–2017, through which the Czech Government intends to implement a series of sector projects in Moldova in several areas: social infrastructures and services, drinking water supply and sanitary services, agriculture, protection of environment, education development, transformation of state administration and strengthening of civil society. According to MFAEI, officials considered the possibility to support Moldova in the Visegrad Group, which the Czech Republic chairs since July 1, 2011.

Multilateral cooperation

Republic of Moldova — GUAM

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Iurie Leanca chaired, on September 29, the meeting of GUAM Council of Foreign Ministers, whose chairmanship is presently held by the Republic of Moldova. According to a MFAIE statements, the participants tried to find new prospects for cooperation within GUAM, in economic, commercial areas, transport and energy infrastructure, fighting organized crime, tourism, prevention of exceptional situations. At the same time, the participants stressed that the deepening and developing cooperation with the European Union remains a priority for GUAM states. G As an outcome of the meeting the GUAM CMFA Warsaw Statement on the prospects for cooperation and European integration was signed, Plan of Action of sectoral cooperation facilitation was endorsed.

Republic of Moldova — Council of Europe

ECHR judgments

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) passed decisions on following applications in SeptemberRO: Ion Ghetan vs. Moldova, Galina Topa vs. Moldova, Victoria Gatlan vs. Moldova, Gheorghe Tricolici vs. Moldova, Petru Savcenco vs. Moldova, Vladimir Dragan vs. Moldova, and Carnex S.R.L. vs. Moldova. The Moldovan Government agreed on an amicable resolution of all these applications, pledging to pay an overall amount of 13,984 Euros.

Republic of Moldova — UN

From 1 to 8 September 2011, Heiner Bielefeldt, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, undertook a country visit to the Republic of Moldova, including its Transnistrian region. The purpose of this visit was to identify good practices, as well as existing or emerging obstacles to the full enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief. During the visit, the UN Special Rapporteur met with high-ranking officials of Moldovan Government, MPs, representatives of the judicial system, the Parliamentary Advocates (Ombudsman institution), local authorities, and representatives of religious communities, journalists and NGOs.

In the preliminary report on his visit, Heiner Bielefeldt state that although the situation of freedom of religion or belief has improved in recent years, “there are still important challenges ahead to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights for all on the basis of non-discrimination and equality”. The following list of specific issues with regard to freedom of religion or belief was presented by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief:

lack of comprehensive anti-discrimination law;
overly predominant position of the Orthodox Church which enjoys a privileged status at variance with the constitutional provision of a secular state, thus affecting the respect of freedom of religion or belief of the religious minorities;
manifestations of intolerance, cases of incitement to hatred, incidents of intimidation or vandalism towards members of religious and sexual minorities;
restrictions on registering of religious denominations imposed by the Transnistrian administration;
lack of alternative military service in Transnistrian region, base on conscientious objection.

The findings presented in this preliminary report will be further elaborated before submitting the country report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2012.

Note by ADEPT: The conclusions of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief generated negative reactions from the representatives of Orthodox Church of Moldova, that claimed that the purpose of the visit was to promote the anti-discrimination law and the insertion of the “sexual orientation” term into the legislation, and less to identify the issues of freedom of religion.

Republic of Moldova — CIS

The acting president of Republic of Moldova, Marian Lupu, participated at the CIS Heads of States meeting, held at Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 2–3 September. Participants at the summit reviewed the results achieved within CIS and its future objectives and signed a Statement over the 20th anniversary of the Community of Independent States. During the summit, Marian Lupu met with the Ukrainian president, Victor Ianukovici, Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbaiev.

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