Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich­Ebert-Stiftung Moldova offer you a newsletter on foreign policy and European integration issues of the Republic of Moldova. The newsletter is part of the“Foreign Policy Dialogue” joint Project. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2018 NR.9(151) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Anette Scoppetta, deputy director of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research: “We need to meet people’s needs and not just the economic interest of companies” 2. Editorial by Adrian Lupușor, director of“Expert-Grup”: “Justice reform as the most effective strategy to attract investment” 3. Veaceslav Negruță, expert with“Transparency International Moldova”: “Clean investments do not seek ways to legalize their origin” 4. Expert Opinion: “State of the Country Report 2018: Key challenges and solutions” News in Brief A new critical Resolution on the Republic of Moldova was adopted on 14 November by the European Parliament. 396 MEPs supported the Resolution, 76 voted against, and 186 abstained. The Resolution shows that the Chisinau authorities are violating their commitments under the Association Agreement, signed four years ago, attesting several abuses of the democratic norms as well as the influence of a small group of people on all state institutions. As in the Resolution of 5 July 2018, the European Parliament accuses the Republic of Moldova of selective justice, limited progress in fighting corruption, pressure on the opposition leaders, and attempts to weaken the independent press. In particular, the deputies noted a regress of democratic standards, referring to the modification of the electoral system and the last local elections in Chisinau. The MEPs also demand that the full text of the Kroll 2 Report on the billion theft be made public and that the authorities do not give up on the case of the Mayor of Orhei, Ilan Shor. Similarly, MEPs condemned the recent extradition of Turkish teachers following their alleged ties to the Gulen Movement. On November 6-7, Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca paid a working visit to Berlin, where he had meetings with several senior officials from Germany’s governmental and legislative structures. During the talks, there has been addressed a wide range of topics related to the Moldovan domestic political situation such as the 2019 parliamentary elections and the latest developments in the Transnistrian case, as well as the relations with the neighbouring countries, Russia and the EU. Several German politicians voiced confidence that, despite the problems it faces today, the Republic of Moldova should at one point be offered a clear European perspective, just as in the case of the Western Balkans. At the same time, the German officials evoked Berlin’s concerns over the recent developments in Chisinau, expressing regret that Moldova lost its role of the ‘frontrunner’ of the Eastern Partnership. The Republic of Moldova remains on the list of priorities of the German foreign policy in Southeast Europe, but the future of the Moldovan-German and Moldovan-EU relations depends on the quality of the 2019 parliamentary elections and on the reforms undertaken by Chisinau under the Association Agreement with the EU, said the German officials. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Daniela Morari, participated in the Eastern Partnership Reflection Forum(EP). The debates focused on the role of the Eastern Partnership in the EU security architecture, the challenges and prospects of the European community’s relations with the Eastern partners on the eve of celebration in 2019 of the tenth anniversary of this initiative. Daniela Morari reiterated our country’s commitment in the context of the Eastern Partnership, noting also the need for a new approach after 2020 in order to ensure an upward trend. Daniela Morari also participated in a round table called“Unity and Division in Europe: New Approaches to European Cooperation and Integration” where she presented her vision on the EU cooperation with Eastern European and Western Balkan countries in the context of the new regional challenges. The third Eastern Partnership Reflection Forum is planned to take place this autumn in Chisinau. Republic of Moldova, in search of... fantastic investments Sorina Ștefârță How to identify new factors of investment attraction that bring know-how, create well­paid and decent jobs, contribute to the growth and diversification of exports, as well as to a rapid, yet balanced and sustainable economic development? To find answers to these questions, on 19 October, Expert-Grup in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Moldova organized the MACRO International Conference 2018. Its sixth edition entitled “Moldova in 2018: investments for people and public good” served as a platform for discussion among Government and Parliament decision makers, independent experts and development partners, local public authorities and other relevant stakeholders. They all came up with their own vision of Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 9(151), november 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