The Newsletter is produced by the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES). The content can be reproduced by mentioning the source. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN MARCH 2018 NR.1(143) 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 European Assistance for the Republic of Moldova. Head of the EU Delegation to Chişinău, Peter Michalko : The conditions agreed with the EU should be fulfilled 2. A Victory à la Pirus. Editorial by Victor Chirilă 3. Political parties’ vision on the EU conditionality for provision of the 100 million euro macro-financial assistance 4. Dionis Cenușă , Expert-Grup: Only two of the ten conditions for the first tranche of the EU assistance have been fully met The last period was marked by a series of important events for the Republic of Moldova President Igor Dodon said in an interview with DW that he has objections to the Free Trade Agreement with the EU and insists on revising some chapters.“We have opened our market for the European goods and domestic producers cannot compete. In the case of some 6-7 agro­industrial groups of goods, let us return to the asymmetric trade”, Igor Dodon said. The EU Delegation, the EU Member States and Switzerland presented a Joint Development Cooperation Strategy to the Moldovan Government, covering areas such as economic development, social protection, strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law, as well as energy efficiency. Following talks on the progress of the Republic of Moldova, the EU Council concluded that three areas- the electoral system, the freedom of the press and the fight against corruption ­still require urgent reforms. In its Conclusions, containing 27 points, the EU Council says “while the steps already taken by Moldova are recognized, the Council emphasizes the crucial importance that the reforms started in 2016 should continue and be implemented.” Before the elections, the Council expresses its regret that the new electoral law does not take into account key recommendations made jointly by the Venice Commission and the OSCE, recalling that transparent, comprehensive and credible local and central elections are of crucial importance. Commenting on the EU Council Conclusions, the Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca highlighted the fact that the EU had reaffirmed its support for the Republic of Moldova. Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu said the European partners “recognize the substantial legislative effort made in the last two years by the Republic of Moldova, while outlining key perspectives in the country’s relationship with the EU.” The opposition emphasized the EU criticism. Andrei Năstase, leader of the DA Party, said that“the EU Council Conclusions definitively dispel the myths that the Plahotniuc-Filip government is manipulating the citizens about the so-called“citizen-friendly reforms”. At the same time, the PAS leader Maia Sandu wrote on Facebook that the government received a“tough warning” from the EU foreign ministers. The EU-Moldova civil society platform that met on 6 March in Brussels, notes in a 58-point statement that the implementation speed of the Association Agreement is“quite low”, calling on the European institutions to continue to monitor and impose strict conditions on the Moldovan authorities. The members of the Platform expressed concern regarding the inefficiency of the bank fraud investigation, but also about the fact that the anti-corruption mechanisms are becoming“less independent”. European Assistance for the Republic of Moldova de Lina Grâu In 2017, for the first time, the EU introduced a set of political conditions for the provision of its financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova. The most important one refers to the observance of democratic standards in the implementation of the mixed electoral system adopted by the Chisinau authorities despite the protests of the opposition and the civil society and of the critical recommendations of the Venice Commission and the OSCE /ODIHR. According to the Government, 76 programmes of external donors, with a total budget of EUR 378.5 million, are in progress in the Republic of Moldova. Representatives of the government led by the Democratic Party have repeatedly said that the foreign assistance has nothing to do with the political preconditions of the EU and that the authorities have fulfilled all commitments for the allocation of the first tranche of the 100 million euro macro-financial assistance agreed with the EU. The loan involves three instalments and 28 conditions. For the first tranche of 30 million euros, Chisinau has to fulfil 10 commitments. Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 1(143), March 2018 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