The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on September 23rd, 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 SEPTEMBER 2017 NR.7(137) 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. European messages for the Republic of Moldova. Conclusions formulated by the Head of the EU Delegation to Chisinau, Pirkka Tapiola , at the end of his term 2. Dionis Cenușa : The pro-European government in Chisinau is directly responsible for the worsening of the dialogue with Brussels 3. Ștefan Gligor: The EU will assess the Moldovan authorities exclusively based on the fulfilment of their commitments 4. Corneliu Ciurea : The crisis in the relationship with the EU can be improved. The last period was marked by a series of important events for the Republic of Moldova. Moldova’s request for“full withdrawal of foreign troops” from its territory will be discussed at the UN General Assembly in October, informed the Moldovan Foreign Ministry. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, criticized the Chisinau’s initiative, arguing that those who suggested to the Republic of Moldova the idea of ​e​ vacuating the Russian peacekeepers from the Transnistrian region are setting up a war in the region. The Moldovan foreign ministry denied having demanded the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers, pointing out that the request refers to the contingent of the Russian troops deployed on the left bank of the Nistru River without the consent of Chisinau. President Igor Dodon criticized the government’s request, saying it was“dust in the eyes of the Western curators and puppeteers” of the government. The Tiraspol Supreme Soviet approved the initiative by the Transnistrian separatist leader, Vadim Krasnoselski, to ask the UN Secretary General to grant the status of observer at the United Nations to the unrecognized republic and to set up a permanent working group on the Transnistrian settlement. The European Union could differentiate its relations with the Eastern Partnership countries according to their degree of rapprochement with the EU and the reforms they have made. In the case of the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, which have signed Association Agreements, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament recommends the creation of a so-called“Eastern Partnership Plus”, including the prospect of joining the Community customs area, the Schengen area and other European structures. The Council and the European Commission are also recommended to strengthen the civil society in partner countries, increase financial support and cancel the roaming charges between the EU and the Eastern Partnership member states. The document was drafted in view of the Eastern Partnership summit, which will take place in late November in Brussels. The Moldovan, Georgian and Ukrainian lawmakers have decided to ask the European Parliament for measures to support their European aspirations. According to a press release of the Moldovan Parliament, deputies from the three countries signed a joint statement demanding that their countries be given a roadmap for EU membership. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Linas Linkevicius, has severely criticized the Moldovan government’s mistakes during a visit to Chisinau, but said the EU will not abandon Moldova if it is determined to go through reforms. Speaking at a joint press conference with her Moldovan counterpart, Andrei Galbur, the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy condemned the “tolerance or facilitation” by the Moldovan governors of the theft of the billion and said the Moldovan government is going to be judged from now on in Brussels“by deeds, not by slogans”. Linkevicius, one of the few senior EU officials that has visited Chisinau lately, said Moldova will receive further assistance from Brussels for the reform implementation if it is determined to continue with the reforms. European messages for the Republic of Moldova by Lina Grâu At the end of his term, the head of the European Union Delegation to Chisinau, Pirkka Tapiola, organized a meeting with the journalists where he made some conclusions. Speaking about the achievements of the Republic of Moldova in the last four years, during which the country had had a period of“the success story of the Eastern Partnership”, Pirkka Tapiola mentioned the liberalization of the visa regime that allowed the Moldovan citizens to travel to the European countries, the signing of the Association Agreement and the creation of the Free Trade Area, which has led to increased exports to the EU. The relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union has become much deeper during this period, said the head of the EU Delegation. From a historical perspective, it was a very difficult time for the Republic of Moldova in its attempt to get closer to the EU, but maybe it didn’t move sufficiently enough in the areas of good governance and the rule of law, said the diplomat. Referring to his regrets after his four-year term in the Republic of Moldova, Pirkka Tapiola said he hoped the reforms would advance more quickly and that no one expected a theft of such a Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 7(137), September 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