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 NOVEMBER 2021 NR.11(189) Synthesis and Foreign Policy NTheewnselewttselre-tutel resistedreevaelliozpaetddebyMMădăădlăinlinNNeceșcușțuuț,ur,eeddaitcotor-rc-ocooordrdinoantaotror Debates TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Panel I: Relaunching and deepening Moldova’s partnership with the European Union: opportunities, priorities and perspectives 2. Panel II: Ensuring the integrity and independence of the judiciary and combating high-level corruption: priorities and obstacles 3. Panel III: Reintegration of the country step by step, between desideratum and realities: What’s next? News in Brief About 70% of citizens are in favour of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, according to an iData poll. According to the study, 68.8% of participants in the survey support the integration of the Republic of Moldova in the European Union, and 35%- in the Eurasian Union. 41.2% of respondents are in favour of the unification of Moldova with Romania. 30.1% of respondents are in favour of Moldova’s accession to NATO. 22.5% opt for restoration of the Soviet Union; 17.8% opt for recognition of Transnistria’s independence; and 45.9% are in favour of Moldova’ withdrawal from the CIS. Also, 42.7% of respondents believe that things in Moldova are going in the right direction, while 45% think the country moves in the wrong direction. Asked about the first 100 days of the Gavrilița Government, 34% of the survey participants rated its activities positively, 31.7%- neutral, 23%- negative and 11.3% found it difficult to answer. The survey was conducted by telephone between November 15-25 with the participation of 1,047 respondents from 367 localities(including the left bank of the Dniester). The margin of error is 2.9%. The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis and the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, declared in a joint conference held on November 23, in Bucharest, that they agree to strengthen the bilateral partnership between the two capitals. While Iohannis thanked Maia Sandu for the“valuable” medical support that Moldova has provided to Romania and that “saved lives”, Sandu reminded Iohannis that he was the first head of state to“honour” Moldova with his presence immediately after presidential elections. Maia Sandu has also had a strong message for the Romanian businessmen to whom she conveyed that the Republic of Moldova is changing and that it will soon become a more business­friendly environment.“Most of our exports go to Romania. We will make sure that the reforms in the judiciary make Moldova a safe place for investment,” said Maia Sandu. On November 11, Prime Minister Natalia Gavriliță presented the report of the first 100 days of government in which she listed a series of measures and achievements adopted by the cabinet she is leading, such as increasing pensions, overcoming the gas crisis, concluding a$ 564 million loan with the IMF, continuing the fight against corruption, bringing in 600 million euros from the EU and another non-repayable 60 million euros to overcome the energy crisis. “We have made progress on the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU, including the adoption of the new Customs Code, the new Railway Code and other basic documents that have unlocked European funding for Moldova. With concrete steps we are approaching Europe and bringing the country’s laws and institutions in order. We have obtained from the EU the commitment to support the Republic of Moldova with 600 million euros for the way out of the crisis, and this money will go where the needs are biggest: the healthcare system, infrastructure, creation of well-paid jobs”, Gavriliță also declared. Reforms and desiderata: The Republic of Moldova in front of a new chapter of European integration The eighth edition of the Moldovan European Integration Forum from 9 November 2021, hosted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation(FES) Moldova, the Foreign Policy Association (APE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has brough into discussion the most pressing issues related to Moldova’s European integration process. The representative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, Marcel Röthig, has stated at the beginning of the event that the purpose of the forum is to find the best solutions for Moldova to continue its European integration course in an accelerated way through implementation of the necessary reforms and harmonization of values ​​ with those of the EU. “The forum has reached its eighth edition and today’s conference takes place in a different context compared to previous editions, taking into account the new government in the Monthly newsletter, No.11(189), November 2021 111 Bucuresti St., Chisinau, MD-2012, Republic of Moldova, Tel.+373 855830 Website: fes-moldova.org. E-mail:fes@fes-moldova.org