The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on March 12 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 FEBRUARY 2016 NR.2(119) 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. Chairman of the Delegation to the EU-Moldova Cooperation Committee of the European Parliament, Andi Cristea:„Deeds speak more than words and promises. So we want to see results”. 2. Petru Macovei: Measures taken by the present government will worsen the media market 3. Ex-chairman of the Constitutional Court, Victor Pușcaș: Prosecution should change its mentality and be independent. The last period was marked by several important events for Moldova. In one of the first plenary sessions this year that took place after the reformatting of the ruling coalition and swearing into office of the Philip Cabinet, the members of the new coalition adopted on February 25 th the Declaration on the stability and modernization of the Republic of Moldova. The MPs assure the external partners and the Moldovan citizens that the reform agenda will be irreversible, the European course will be strengthened, the collaboration with the IMF will be continued, and the corruption will be combatted. The lawmakers want social prices for bread, milk and medicines. The Declaration has been criticized by the deputies who are not part of the new coalition, who said that“a captured state cannot be modernized.” The Parliament adopted a new Law on Prosecution, which is part of the judicial reform strategy required by the EU. The law provides for the de-politicization of the Prosecution, including changes in the way the Prosecutor General is apponted –the latter will be appointed by the President at the proposal of the Superior Council of Prosecutors. Currently, the Prosecutor General is appointed by Parliament. Following the adoption of the law, the Prosecutor General, Corneliu Gurin, whose resignation has been repeatedly demanded in recent years both by the parliamentary opposition and the protesting citizens, has resigned, saying he was doing that for the“reform to begin with a new Prosecutor General.” Parliament has introduced a number of amendments to the Broadcasting Code, reducing from 5 to 2 the number of licenses held by a physical or legal entity. The new law will be applied only when the currently valid licenses expire.“We are supporting the reduction of the number of licenses from five to two, but this draft is absolutely not ready as there is no Government’s approval and some licenses will expire only in 2021,” said Chiril Lucinschi, a PLDM Member of Parliament. The law was criticized also by the media NGOs that have urged the president not to promulgate the new amendments to the law. Through a decision adopted on March 4 th , the Constitutional Court reinstated the direct vote for the presidential election, cancelling the modifications to the Constitution from 2000, which introduced in Moldova a parliamentary system and election of the president by the Parliament. The Court decided the return to the old text of the Constitution on the grounds that the Parliament had adopted the amendments with procedural violations. The direct presidential elections could take place in autumn. The European Union foreign ministers adopted on February 15th a Resolution on Moldova. The EU urges Moldova, in a 13-point list, to clarify the 2014 bank fraud, to improve the legislation on the broadcasters who own several broadcasting licenses, as well as to choose a politically unaffiliated BNM governor. The EU also urges to speed up the implementation of the Association Agenda, the public administration reform, the fight against corruption. As for financial support, it will be resumed when the political and economic situation clears up. Andi Cristea: Deeds speak more than words and promises. So we want to see results C hairman of the Delegation to the EU­Moldova Cooperation Committee of the European Parliament, Andi Cristea, and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, Elmar Brok, have addressed an official letter to the Moldovan Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, with expectations from the Government. “The Republic Moldova cannot count on the EU support until the Government proves by deeds and not by words seriousness and the necessary level of political ambition for the implementation of the reforms under the Association Agreement. The new Government has the obligation to act for a modern society, regain the citizens’ confidence, and restore the macro-economic stability. Negotiation and signing of an agreement with the IMF are essential. Only then, the European funding for Chisinau will be resumed. Particular attention should be given to combating corruption, effective independent judiciary and especially to the investigation of frauds in the banking system”, said Andi Cristea. The letter comes in the context in which following the investiture of the Filip Government on January 20 th , 2016, the need for reforming the state is fundamental, the latter being among the conditions formulated by Romania for releasing the first tranche of a 150 million euros loan. Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 2(119), February 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