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 2024 NR. 5(219) Synthesis and Foreign Policy Debates NTheewnselewttselre-tutel resistedreevaelliozpaet ddebyMMădăădlăinlinNNeceșcușțuuț,ur,eeddaitcotor-rc-ocooordrdinoantaotror TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Cornelia Cozonac, director of CIJM: There is a risk of setting a dangerous precedent, and if the government changes, these tools will work against independent media 2. Igor Munteanu, chairman CUB: I’ve always had a lot of respect for investigative journalists who don’t bend towards power 3. Madalin Necsutu, journalist, TVR Moldova: How can the Republic of Moldova navigate through the fight against disinformation without resorting to censorship? News in Brief Thirteen political parties from the Republic of Moldova signed the Pact for Europe on May 26. The document was formulated by the“Together” political bloc- which includes the Dignity and Truth Platform, the Coalition for Unity and Welfare, the Party of Change and the League of Cities and Municipalities. The Signatories of the Pact for Europe assumes the“political commitment to fully contribute to the objective of the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union”, “to promote the rule of law, social cohesion and national solidarity around the strategic objective of European integration, putting the public interest above personal, group and party interests”,“condemning the war of aggression and the forceful occupation of the territories of sovereign and independent states””, the document states. The document is based on the Snagov Pact, a similar document signed in 1995 by all political parties in Romania in which they agreed that regardless of political differences, the country’s goals are to join NATO and the European Union. The Republic of Moldova has set 2030 as its EU accession target. The Moldovan and Romanian military will be able to prepare and participate jointly in missions and operations under the auspices of international organizations, such as the European Union, after the signing in Bucharest, on May 24, of the second Protocol amending the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Romania regarding cooperation in the military field, concluded on April 20, 2012, in Chisinau. The updated document provides for mutual support in the field of training and joint participation in missions and operations under the auspices of international organizations, such as the European Union. The Minister of Defense, Anatolie Nosatîi, paid an official visit to Bucharest, at the invitation of his Romanian counterpart Angel Tîlvăr. The two officials had a bilateral meeting, during which they discussed the security situation in the Black Sea region and the ways in which Romania could support the Republic of Moldova in the context of increasing resilience to current challenges. The notion of“treason” will be more clearly regulated in the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, after several PAS deputies submitted an amendment to article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova. The amendment was developed with the aim of strengthening the legal framework in the field of ensuring state security. Accordingly, the aim is to give the provision of“treason” a better clarity. The deputies also propose the introduction of an additional form of treason. It is about giving aid to a foreign state or foreign organizations, which can also be expressed through disinformation campaigns that undermine the sovereignty and security of the state. During the public discussions, deputy Oazu Nantoi emphasized that the danger for the Republic of Moldova comes from Russia, which is an aggressor state, which occupies part of the territory of the Republic of Moldova, keeping its troops on Moldova’s territory. In Oazu Nantoi’s opinion this is a fundamental difference between Russia and other states, and this must be specified in the context of treason. The Republic of Moldova: between a powerful mass media and the temptation of censorship The Republic of Moldova is facing a challenge, but also an important test on how it can reset or reform the media field in a European spirit. On the one hand, it must remove as much as possible Russian propaganda, an emanation of the hybrid war waged by Russia against the Republic of Moldova, but also not resort to censorship and close down those media that de facto primarily serve the interests of the Kremlin and organized criminal groups led by fugitive Moldavian oligarchs. Journalists and media experts gathered to discuss media issues in the Republic of Moldova on May 23, at Media Forum Policy 2024. Photo: Mădălin Necșuțu Here we must find the key to an extremely thorny and urgent problem, against the background of a war in the neighbouring Ukraine, but also of the domestic political context that will be dominated this year by presidential elections and a referendum on EU accession. Monthly newsletter, No.5(219), May 2024 111 Bucuresti St., Chisinau, MD-2012, Republic of Moldova, Tel.+373 855830 Website: moldova.fes.de. E-mail: fes.moldova@fes.de