Foreign Policy Association together with Friedrich­Ebert-Stiftung 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 JANUARY 2019 NR.1(155) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. HE Daniel Ioniță, Romanian Ambassador to Chisinau: “I wish the principles and values governing the common policies of the European Union irradiate positively also in the Republic of Moldova” 2. Editorial by HE Luminița Odobescu, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Romania to the European Union: “The priorities of the Romanian Presidency are closely correlated with the expectations of European citizens” 3. Radu Magdin, political analyst: “Romania’s mission in these six months is to be the link between the East and the West” 4. Expert opinion. Dionis Cenușă: „The expectations of the Moldovan authorities from the Romanian EU Presidency are far too high” News in Brief Although the Moldovan society has not reached yet a full consensus on the state foreign policy, there is still a considerable majority that clearly stands for the European integration. And the implementation of the Association Agreement has always been among the Government priorities. The statements belong to Prime Minister Pavel Filip and were made on the occasion of Diplomacy Day, celebrated on January 17th. The head of the Executive appreciated in particular the contribution of the diplomatic corps to the Transnistrian settlement process, including the adoption by the UN General Assembly last year of the Resolution“On the complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military units from the territory of the Republic of Moldova”. The prime minister said there is still much to be done to promote our country on the international arena.“I believe, however, that the benefits of the European course will gradually strengthen our society and bring consensus. I want to assure you that the Republic of Moldova will remain firmly anchored in the European development model and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration will continue to play a central role in coordinating this course”, said the prime minister. The electoral process in the Republic of Moldova was the key topic of the meeting between Prime Minister Pavel Filip and the American Ambassador to Chisinau Dereck J. Hogan that took place at the end of January. The officials exchanged views on the electoral campaign, which has just begun, and discussed the dynamics of the Moldovan-American dialogue, including the stimulation of cooperation in the fields of information technology and cyber security. The Prime Minister reconfirmed the government’s determination to ensure a fair, transparent, free electoral process in accordance with all international norms. To this end, he stressed that several foreign observers were invited to monitor the elections and cameras were installed in the polling stations. At the same time, the Premier requested an objective attitude from observers and partners. According to a joint statement signed by the Speakers of Parliament in Chisinau, Tbilisi and Kiev, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine will co-operate in combating threats in the three countries. Thus, the three legislative fora have undertook to identify solutions for the creation of anti-hybrid cells and for designating National Contact Points that will receive, analyze and share specific information on the hybrid threat indicators and warnings. The document emphasizes that the hybrid threats seek to exploit the vulnerabilities of a country and often attempt to undermine the fundamental values ​a​ nd freedoms of democracy, but also threaten the energy, financial, transport, defense, public health or food security systems. The signatories expressed their willingness to join the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats(Hybrid CoE) and other relevant European structures as participants or observers. They also encourage mutual assistance between countries, but also support from the EU and the USA, in order to build the capacity of the institutions in the three states and increase their resilience to respond to common threats and strengthen security in the region. Romania at the helm of the EU: for the cohesion of Europe Chisinau, January 30th, 2019. The Ambassador Daniel Ioniță presents the Priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council Sorina Ștefârță Cohesion, this is the leitmotiv of the first Romanian mandate to the European Union Presidency. An ambitious mandate, which is gaining more and more speed in order to achieve in the best possible way the priorities structured around four pillars of action: Europe of convergence: growth, cohesion, competitiveness, connectivity; A Safer Europe; Europe as a global actor; Europe of common values. An audacious mission at a time when the European Union will have to manage at least two major challenges- the Brexit, the first withdrawal exercise from the EU by a member state, and the European Parliament Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 1(155), January 2019 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