The Newsletter is based on the radio programme broadcast on 22 December 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 DECEMBER 2017 NR.12(142) 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. Christoph Speckbacher(GRECO): Discussions about the transparency of party funding are limiting the risk of state capture 2. Jacopo Leone(OSCE/ODIHR): There exist loopeholes in the Moldovan legislation when it comes to transparency and disclosure 3. Pavel Postică(Promo-Lex): The political parties in the Republic of Moldova fail to report all their spending 4. Philip Dimitrov(Venice Commission): The administrative capacity of the Central Electoral Commission should be increased 5. Sergiu Lipcean(IDIS Viitorul): The parties in the Republic of Moldova are not interested in the transparency of funding The last period was marked by a series of important events for the Republic of Moldova. The European Union announced on December 21 that it has provided the Republic of Moldova with 36.3 million euros as budget support, following the results of 5 programmes, including the implementation of the free trade area, police and public finances reform. A statement released by the EU delegation to Chisinau says the Moldovan authorities have agreed to use the money to support the five programmes, including the implementation of the liberalized visa regime, agriculture and rural development. The statement says that the amount of the financial support is smaller than that requested by the government in the amount of€ 47 million. The leadership of the International Monetary Fund approved a new loan instalment for Moldova of more than$22 million, following the government “consolidation of macroeconomic and financial stability” efforts. At its meeting from December 20th in Washington, the IMF Executive Board of Directors concluded that the Moldovan authorities respect‘in general’ the terms of the bilateral cooperation programme, but“sustained efforts are needed to promote reforms, accelerate economic growth and improve the living conditions of the population.” The government led by Pavel Filip was reshuffled on December 19, the changes being announced by the President of the Democratic Party, Vlad Plahotniuc. The reason put forward was the need for a more efficient and less politically affiliated executive. Only four ministers have retained their portfolios. The seven new ministers are known names, some of them resuming their old ministries. President Igor Dodon said he would sign the resignation of the ministers dismissed from office, but would not accept the new nominations proposed by the ruling coalition. The former Prime Ministers Iurie Leanca and Chiril Gaburici, the former Justice Minister and President of the Constitutional Court, Alexandru Tanase are among the seven new ministers. The National Bank of Moldova has made public what it calls a“detailed synthesis” of the investigation into the theft of the billion, of the so-called Kroll 2 Report. In a press release of the NBM it is said that the 57-page summary reveals how the money was stolen, as well as the countries through which it has circulated or arrived, through the group of companies of Ilan Shor who is currently the mayor of Orhei. The Barometer of Public Opinion(BOP) shows that the EU is growing in citizens’ preferences. For the first time in the last several years, the percentage of voters who would support EU membership is higher than that of supporters of the Eurasian Union. The ratio is 38 to 32 percent in favour of the European Union. According to BOP, the confidence in Igor Dodon fell from 32% in April to 20% in November. At the same time, the number of those who say they don’t trust anyone had doubled, reaching almost 50 percent. Financing of political parties – where does the Republic of Moldova stand? A conference on the topic“Fi ­nancing of Political Parties in the Republic of Moldova: Lessons Le­arned in the Eastern Partnership” was held recently in Chisinau. The conference aimed at exchanging lessons learned and good practi ­ces in ensuring level playing field concerning the rules of and ac­cess to party financing, effective monitoring of party financing and oversight over financing of politi ­cal parties and pre-election cam ­paigns among national partners. In particular, areas of party finan ­cing and political finance monito ­ring that require further reforms have been discussed, as well as practical recommendations on how to ensure level playing field, transparency and accountability. The conference was organized within the framework of the Partnership for Good Governan ­ce Program, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kon ­rad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the IDEA Electoral Democracy and Electo­ral Institute and the Central Elec ­toral Commission of the Republic of Moldova. According to some data presen ­ted at the opening of the confe­rence by the director of ADEPT, Igor Botan, in 2016, in the Re ­public of Moldova there were registered 40 political parties. 23 of them reported revenues of 96 million MDL or 5 million Euros of which 40 million MDL or about 2 million Euros was allocated from the state budget, which repre­sents 0.12% of the budget reve­nues. The largest beneficiaries of the party spending, according to Igor Botan, are the media holdings affiliated to the Democratic Party and the Party of Socialists, and namely the four broadcasters with the largest audience sub­ordinated to the Democrats and the three TV stations of the Soci ­alists. Other major beneficiaries of party money are charitable or­ganizations- one affiliated to the Democratic Party and two-to the Socialists. Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 12(142), December 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