The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on February 5 th , 2016, produced by the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES). The programme is broadcast on the Radio Moldova public channel and on the Vocea Basarabiei Radio. The programme is part of the FES/APE“Foreign Policy Dialogues” Project. The content can be reproduced by mentioning the source. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN JANUARY 2016 NR.1(118) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The materials are realized by Lina Grau, foreign policy expert and programme coordinator with APE. TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Government sworn into office against the background of protests and instability. Nicu Popescu: The current situation is not caused by external factors, but rather by the corrupted domestic political class 2. Corneliu Ciurea: The need for stabilization was considered a priority, being temporarily preferred to combating corruption 3. Anneli Ute Gabanyi: It would be a big mistake to imagine that a political class can be changed overnight The last period was marked by several important events in Moldova. Germany expressed hope that the political stability will be reinstalled and that the EU­oriented reforms in Moldova will continue. Speaking on Monday, 18 January, in Brussels, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, the head of German diplomacy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said he hoped Moldovans would opt for a government able to implement the “necessary reforms” and cooperate with the EU and international creditors. The German minister also said that particularly, the resumption of the dialogue with the foreign financial institutions is“important for the survival of Moldova”. The European Parliament welcomed the inauguration of a new government in Moldova and urged it to solve rapidly the problems faced by the country. The call is contained in a resolution adopted by the EU Parliament on January 21st, marking the first anniversary of the ratification of the Association Agreements by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The document states that in the first year of association with the EU, Moldova has increased its exports on the Community market by 62%. The Moldovan government will ask the IMF to urgently send a mission to Moldova for a new agreement, announced Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, after the first meeting of the executive. The Finance Minister, Octavian Armaşu, said that by May, a deficit of 4-5 billion lei is possible to accumulate and the payment of pensions and salaries could become a problem as early as February. Pavel Filip’s first foreign visit was to Bucharest and took place on January 31st. Filip discussed with the Romanian Prime Minister, Dacian Ciolos, about granting of a first tranche of the 150 million euros loan promised by Bucharest. Shortly after this visit, Bucharest has sent a letter formulating the conditions for issuing the money: the Filip government should make the Association agenda a clear priority, elect the new governor of the National Bank in a transparent way, invite the IMF mission to Chisinau, but also initiate legislative packages aimed at improving the banking system and business environment, reforming the judiciary system and fighting against corruption. “These reforms represent not only implementation of the Association Agreement with the European Union, but also are the best guarantor of stability and prosperity for Moldovan citizens,” reads the letter signed by Dacian Cioloş. Government sworn into office against the background of protests and instability Chronology of the Filip cabinet investiture The year 2016 in Chisinau has started in a turbulent way. In the milieu of the street protests that have grown and got to meet both the pro-European Dignity and Truth Platform and the pro-Russian parties led by Igor Dodon and Renato Usatii, the political class has continued its attempts to appoint a prime minister. The position remained vacant after the dismissal on October 29, 2015, of the cabinet led by one of the leaders of the Liberal Democratic Party, Valeriu Streleţ. The first candidature submitted by President Nicolae Timofti on December 21 st , 2015, was that of Ion Sturza, Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 1(118), January 2016 64, Sciusev str. MD-2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Tel-Fax:+373 22 21 09 86 Website: www.ape.md E-mail: office@ape.md