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 MAY 2019 NR.5(159) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates The newsletter is developed by Sorina Ştefârţă, editor-coordinator TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Daniela Morari, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova: ”It is enough to look back to see the numerous advantages the ten years of Eastern Partnership have brought” 2. Editorial by HE Peter Michalko, European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova: “For the future of the Eastern Partnership, we have to bring it closer to each of our citizens” 3. Iulian Groza, Iulian Rusu, experts with the Institute for European Policy and Reforms(IPRE): “The Republic of Moldova should formulate new ambitious objectives within the Eastern Partnership” 4. Look from the Outside: Prof. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland “The Future of the Eastern Partnership” Mention should be made that all materials were developed end of May 2019 News in Brief The international bodies have reacted promptly to the latest events in Chisinau, when the MPs elected on February 24th on the tickets of the ACUM Electoral Block and the Party of Socialists gathered at a meeting declared unlawful by the Constitutional Court and appointed the leadership of the Parliament and Government headed by Maia Sandu. On Sunday afternoon, June 9th, the European Union issued a statement recognizing Maia Sandu’s government, saying it stands ready to work with it“on the basis of a mutual commitment to reforms and to the core principles enshrined in our Association Agreement”. One day earlier, also the USA announced through the Embassy in Chisinau that they support the parties’ efforts to negotiate an agreement and overcome the political deadlock, noting that citizens deserve a fully functional government to resume its work. Similar statements came from the Council of Europe and the Romanian Government. The neighbouring country holding the EU Presidency at the moment has urged Moldovan politicians to respect the democratic process and the citizens’ will expressed through their votes, while President Klaus Iohannis urged all political forces“to stay calm and restrain during this period, giving priority to the political stability of the state. The Moldovan-Ukrainian relations and their continuous development were the subject of the first discussion between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Tudor Ulianovschi, and the new President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. At the inauguration ceremony of the new leader in Kiev, the Chisinau official passed Volodymyr Zelensky the congratulations of the Moldovan leadership and expressed his belief that the political dialogue and bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring states will grow. Tudor Ulianovschi noted the good-neighbourly relations between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine as well as the common challenges, and mentioned that concerted efforts could be achieved by mutually beneficial projects. In turn, Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is interested in developing a constructive dialogue with the Republic of Moldova on all its dimensions and expressed willingness to get involved in this process. The Special Representative of the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office for Moldova Franco Frattini advocated stepping up efforts to maintain positive dynamics in the Transnistrian settlement process for the benefit of people on both sides of the Nistru regardless of the internal political processes. During the recent visit to Moldova, Frattini praised Chisinau and Tiraspol for their leadership and dedication from the recent years: in 2017 and 2018, the two sides organized over 100 expert group meetings, in which practical solutions were found to problems that had not been tackled for decades.“These solutions have improved the everyday life of students, teachers, farmers and entrepreneurs on both banks of the Nistru,” said Frattini. He referred in particular to: the application of the apostille on the diplomas issued in Tiraspol, the functioning of the Transnistrian-based Latin­script schools, the access to agricultural land in the Dubasari district, the opening of the bridge between the villages of Gura Bicului and Bîcioc, the mechanism of participation of vehicles from Transnistria in the international traffic. The Spring of our Anniversaries: Stronger Together Sorina Ștefârță This spring has marked several anniversaries. On April 28 th we remembered that it has been five years since the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have been traveling to Europe without visas. On May 1 st we marked 15 years since the“Great Enlargement,” when ten Central and Eastern European countries joined the EU. Also in May we celebrated the 10 th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), a project launched at the initiative of Sweden and Poland, which has propelled to a new level the EU cooperation with six eastern neighbours ­the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus. It is true that not all these countries have kept the pace, especially since each of them has the freedom to determine its own degree of cooperation with the EU. Some have more of a formal role in the“club”. Others- the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine- have chosen the maximum degree of rapprochement and signed Association Agreements, benefiting from the liberalized visa regime and the facilities of a Free Trade Area. Monthly Bulletin, Nr. 5(159), May 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