The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on August 10 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. The programme is part of the FES/APE“European Integration and Foreign Policy Dialogues” Project. The content can be reproduced by mentioning the source. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN JULY 2016 NR.7(125) 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. The British Ambassador to Chisinau, Phil Batson : Taking business out of politics is one of the major challenges for the future of the Republic of Moldova 2. Executive Director of IDIS Viitorul, Igor Munteanu : A federalization model would disintegrate the Republic of Moldova rather than strengthen in. 3.“Elections in Transnistria – are they going to change the situation?” – an editorial by Ernest Vardanean . The last period was marked by several important events for Moldova. At the end of July the Moldovan government reported that it met 74 of the 82 commitments under the Roadmap for the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU. The priority reforms, said the Prime Minister Pavel Filip, should be accelerated. At the same time, the representatives of the civil society are criticizing the Government for lack of consistency in fulfilling the commitments with the EU, accusing it of superficiality and simulation of reforms. On July 1st, the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union came into force. The European Commission Vice President Federica Mogherini, expressed hope in a statement that the relations between Chisinau and Brussels will become even closer.“Together with the implementation of reforms in the country, the agreement has the potential to help changing the lives of Moldovans for the better, to bring jobs, growth and stability, says Federica Mogherini. Johannes Hahn, the Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner, underlined that in the period of provisional application of the Association Agreement, since September 2014, the Moldovan exports to the EU increased and that the EU became the main trading partner of Moldova. “Now, fundamental changes in political and economic governance need to take place, so Moldovans can see real change. We are looking forward to real reforms on the rule of law, justice, and the independence of institutions from political pressure and on economic development. The EU is making available substantial assistance to support the implementation of the country’s reform agenda”, said Johannes Hahn. On the Nistru river, near Tiraspol, joint military applications by the Russian Troops Task Force and the Transnistrian force structures took place for the first time with the infantry and tanks crossing the Nistru, where, according to legend,“there were terrorists who were neutralized with the help of a special forces assault, parachuted out of a plane.” The Moldovan authorities have described the applications as“defiant and unacceptable” and demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria and transformation of the peacekeeping mission into one with international mandate. On July 26, July Ivanna Vladkova-Hollar, the head of the IMF mission that visited Chisinau during July 5th-15th, announced that IMF signed a Staff Level Agreement with the Moldovan authorities. A final decision on the agreement, which will mean release of the external financing for Moldova, will be taken by the IMF board in October. The agreement provides for a reform programme in the banking sector and economic growth reforms that Moldova has to undertake in exchange for funding by IMF of about 179 million dollars. On July 25th and 26th, Frank Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister and the acting chairman of OSCE paid a visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol in an attempt to convince the authorities on the two banks of the river to continue making“small steps” for confidence building, which would also lead to the drafting of a legal status for the Transnistrian region. He insisted on the implementation of the Berlin protocol on the Transnistrian settlement, and namely acceptance of the diplomas issued by the universities in Transnistria and admittance of the car license plates in the international traffic. Steinmeier also said that a special status for the Transnistrian region can be accepted only by respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova. Phil Batson: Taking business out of politics is one of the major challenges for the future of the Republic of Moldova T he British Ambassador to Chisinau, Phil Batson, ended his mandate in Moldova and in an exclusive interview, he is explaining why the fight against corruption and reforming the judiciary have to go beyond rhetoric and standard formulations and become a reality Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 7(125), july 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