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 SEPTEMBER 2024 NR. 9(223) Synthesis and Foreign Policy NTheewnselewttselre-tutel resistedreevaelliozpaetddebyMMădăădlăinlinNNeceșcușțuuț,ur,eeddaitcotor-rc-ocooordrdinoantaotror Debates TOPICS OF THE EDITION: 1. Valeriu Pasa, director of the WatchDog Community: “The highest risk that I see is the low or insufficient turnout to validate the referendum” 2. Madalin Necsutu, journalist with TVR Moldova:“ How to rise above the ego: why should Moldovans vote in the referendum?” 3. Vadim Pistrinciuc, executive director of IPIS: “There is a lot of speculation about war in order to create panic among the citizens” 4. Angela Gramada, president ESGA: “Risks and challenges associated with the organization of the referendum for European integration” News in Brief The Republic of Moldova obtained significant support during the Chisinau meeting with over 65 international delegations, on September 17, within the framework of the Partnership Platform for Moldova. Thus, nine financing agreements were signed that will support infrastructure investments and the transition to a green and sustainable economy for the benefit of citizens. The Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Canada signed a preferential loan agreement in the amount of 120 million Canadian dollars(about 79 million euros). The Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the United States of America have agreed on an amendment worth 12 million US dollars(about 10.7 million euros) to the assistance agreement for strengthening democratic institutions. The Ministry of Energy, the National Centre for Sustainable Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, the German International Cooperation Agency(GIZ), the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway concluded a multilateral agreement, signing a Cooperation Intention in the field of energy efficiency in the residential sector of Moldova. The total value of the partners’ financial support is over 20 million euros. The mission to observe the presidential elections and the constitutional referendum, launched by the Promo-LEX association, detected several uncertainties, gaps and irregularities related to the use of administrative resources, electoral advertising and other dysfunctions. The findings are contained in the mission’s second report, presented on September 20. The report“refers to several legal provisions that were found somewhat problematic, such as the lack of a clear demarcation between the activities carried out by the incumbent president and the campaign activities”, said the head of the observers’ mission in the presidential elections and the republican constitutional referendum from October 20, Nicolae Panfil. Promo-LEX representatives reported 13 cases of abusive use of administrative resources, such as signature collection actions in public institutions during working hours, taking credit for works and services implemented with public money and engaging in excessive promotion campaigns of a single option regarding the referendum and spending public money to promote that option. The head of diplomacy of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi, declared on September 23, from the UN forum in New York, that in order to solve the multiple problems faced by the international community“there must be cooperation and solidarity between states”.“The head of Moldovan diplomacy spoke about the consolidation of international peace and security, noting that in order to solve the multiple problems faced by the international community, there must be cooperation and solidarity between states. At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi emphasized the importance of digitization, but also the involvement of young people both at the national and international level», reported the representatives of the Foreign Office in Chisinau. The event, held in New York, is part of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The referendum ­a project of national unity on the way to the EU The"Citizens for Europe" volunteers carry out an information campaign in the villages of the Republic of Moldova and explain to the citizens what the European Union is in view of the referendum on October 20. Photo: Citizens for Europe The Republic of Moldova is faced with an important choice to show both domestically and externally that the country’s path to the European Union is one that unites the society regardless of ethnicity, language or ideology. The October 20 referendum is not just a voting exercise. It should reflect a reality in which the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are aware of a very simple choice: either they want to live in prosperity and peace generated by the European Union, or they want to remain anchored in the sphere of influence of the Russian Federation, where there is no prosperity, but instead there is war. For all rational people, regardless of political Monthly newsletter, No.9(223), September 2024 111 Bucuresti St., Chisinau, MD-2012, Republic of Moldova, Tel.+373 855830 Website: moldova.fes.de. E-mail: fes.moldova@fes.de