The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on October 21st, 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 OCTOBER 2017 NR.9(139) 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. MACRO 2017 Conference – Moldova 2030 in Europe 2030 2. Martin Hutsebaut , ex-expert with ETUC: The future of this country will be built by the younger generation with the help of European countries 3. Erik Reinert , professor at Tallin Technical University: Add value to your raw materials and industrialize The last period was marked by a series of important events for the Republic of Moldova. The European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee adopted a statement on October 10 that recommends intensifying sanctions against Russia and creating a mechanism that will further bring Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine closer to the European Union. It is expected that the recommendation will be approved by Parliament’s plenary on the eve of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels in November. The Foreign Policy Committee recommends, among other things, that the countries that have already signed association agreements be given the prospect of joining the“customs union, the energy and digital unions and the Schengen area”. The measures for the near future could be“preferential tariffs, the abolition of roaming charges and the development of rapid communication networks”. President Igor Dodon attended the meeting of CIS Heads of State, which took place in Sochi, where he met the Russian President Vladimir Putin for the sixth time this year. The Kremlin leader said Russia would guarantee any possible agreement that would lead to the final settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. According to him, the Transnistrian problem needs to be resolved“once and for all” for the benefit of the people who live there. Igor Dodon said that a long-lasting solution will be found only after the next year’s general elections. The President Igor Dodon said in a speech at the Sochi CIS summit that“not only the economic development, but also the statehood of Moldova depends on the stability and positive processes in the CIS countries and the Eurasian Economic Union.” President Igor Dodon announced on his Facebook page that the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union welcomed the request of Moldova to be granted observer status and undertook to look at ways how such a request could be integrated into the status of the Eurasian Union. The Constitutional Court(CC) decided on Tuesday, October 17, that the head of state cannot block the replacement of cabinet ministers, the latter being the decision of the Prime Minister. According to the CC, President Igor Dodon’s refusal to appoint the Minister of Defense constitutes a“failure to fulfil constitutional obligations” and is“a prerequisite for the suspension of the head of state”. Igor Dodon criticized the decision, saying it is equivalent to the“usurpation of power in the state” and it is an“interpretation of the Constitution in the interests of the Democratic Party that controls the parliamentary majority.” Dodon threatened the Constitutional Court magistrates and government officials with reprisals after the 2018 parliamentary elections that his former party- the Party of Socialists­hopes to win.“In nine out of ten cases, those who came through the blood leave through the blood,” Dodon said without explaining his statement. The Action and Solidarity Party headed by Maia Sandu announced that she accepted the offer of the DA Platform led by Andrei Nastase to participate with a joint list of candidates in the 2018 parliamentary elections. The EU will not transfer the last tranche of EUR 28 million to the Republic of Moldova for the justice reform. A statement by the EU Delegation in Chisinau says that “The EU has carefully followed the process of reform implementation and noted that the authorities have shown insufficient commitment to implement reforms in the justice sector in 2014 and 2015 and the necessary reforms have not been implemented.” The head of the EU Delegation, Peter Michalko, is quoted as saying that“the EU continues to support Moldovans who are working hard for a better future. We are now looking at how we can help citizens in the coming years. We want to give priority to projects that directly improve the lives of Moldovans.” MACRO 2017 – Moldova 2030 in Europe 2030 The rethinking of Moldova’s the people, but also the aspect of economic growth model was one of good governance as a key element the main topics of this year’s MACRO for the prosperity of the Republic of Conference, organized by the Expert- Moldova. Grup Think Tank in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The The State of the Country Report, fifth edition of the conference was developed by Expert-Grup in dedicated to“Moldova in 2030 in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert­a Europe of 2030: Development Stiftung and presented at the MACRO solutions in a changing environment”. Conference analyses the main Among the subjects discussed was economic and social trends of the the way in which economic growth Republic of Moldova over the past can be ensured in the interest of year. Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 9(139), October 2017 64, Sciusev str. 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