The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on July 15th, 2017, produced by the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES). The programme is broadcast on the Moldova Public 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 JULY 2017 NR.6(136) 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. Arcadie Barbăroșie: Power has seen an enemy in civil society organizations 2. Lilia Carasciuc: Controlling the civil society is a clear way towards a dictatorial regime 3. Andrei Brighidin: More than 90 percent of NGOs could be silenced 4. Sorin Ioniță: Is European integration still a priority for Chisinau? The last period was marked by a series of important events for the Republic of Moldova. EU institutions agreed to approve 100m Euros financial aid to Moldova. However, a press release published on the website of the European Council points out that disbursement of money will depend on the attitude of the authorities towards the recommendations of the Venice Commission on the change of the electoral system. The EU has announced it shares the criticism of the Venice Commission and of the OSCE Election Office on the initiative to change the voting system in Moldova. In a statement by Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for the External Action Service, it is said that the EU shares the view that “such a fundamental change, although it is the sovereign prerogative of the country, is currently inappropriate.” US Ambassador to Chisinau, James Pettit, said changing of the electoral system is“an attempt by the Chisinau government to strengthen its political power.” In a broadcast at JurnalTV, he said“the government’s tendency to strengthen political power and it’s political influence is evident.” Andrian Candu, Speaker of Moldovan Parliament, reaffirmed that the Democratic Party will not give up the change of the electoral system and criticized the Venice Commission for exceeding its attributions. Speaking at PRO TV Chisinau, Candu argued that the experts of the Venice Commission “did not assess correctly when they pronounced on the political side of the change”. However, he promised to take into account the Commission’s legal recommendations. President Igor Dodon abrogated the draft National Security Strategy of Moldova approved a year ago during ex- President Timofti’s term. In a Facebook post, Dodon wrote that the document “no longer corresponds to the substantial changes that have taken place in the national, regional and international environment,” Agora reports. The document which was developed with the assistance of the NATO experts named Romania and the USA as Moldova’s main defense partners. Moldova, together with Ukraine and Georgia, called on the European Parliament to adopt a resolution on the EU-membership prospect of the three countries. A statement in this sense was signed by the Presidents of Parliaments of Chisinau, Kiev and Tbilisi. Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu said Moldova may apply for EU membership until the next parliamentary elections in 2018.“If we continue to produce results in implementing the reforms, I would say that in a year we could have results so that in 2018 we could apply for membership. I am optimistic that we will succeed”, said Candu. “Moldova must continue to implement reforms before moving on to the next stage in relations with the EU- filing an application for membership,” said Johannes Hahn, EU Enlargement Commissioner, at the 9th meeting of the informal ministerial dialogue of the Eastern Partnership in Chisinau. Financing of NGOs from abroad – are the authorities ready for this step? Declaration on the attempt of the Moldovan authorities to ban the foreign financing of the civil society Lina Grâu T he civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova are signalling on the authorities’ intention to impose a series of restrictions on foreign financing of non-governmental organizations, which may endanger the existence of the associative sector and democracy in the Republic of Moldova. A statement signed by the most prominent non-governmental organizations says the Ministry of Justice came up with the proposal to ban foreign financing for the organizations involved in political activity- that“contribute to the development and promotion of public policies aimed at influencing the legislative Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 5(135), June 2017 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