MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in the Republic of Moldova
18.10.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Elmar Brok, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Monica Luisa Macovei, Ioannis Kasoulides, Traian Ungureanu, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Vytautas Landsbergis, Cristian Dan Preda on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0572/2010
B7‑0572/2010
European Parliament resolution on the situation in the Republic of Moldova
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Joint Statement of the EU-Moldova Cooperation Council issued on 21 December 2009,
– having regard to the Commission Progress Report on the Republic of Moldova of 12 May 2010 (COM(2010)207), finding that progress was achieved in most of the sectoral fields covered by the ENP Action Plan,
– having regard to the on-going negotiations for the conclusion of an Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, as well as the negotiations on the liberalization of the visa regime between the Union and the Republic of Moldova,
– having regard to the Final Statement and Recommendations of the EU-Republic of Moldova Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting of 17 February 2010,
– having regard to the aid provided by the European Union to the Republic of Moldova in the framework of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), including for the project entitled ‘Electoral Support to the Republic of Moldova’, from 26 February 2009, which provided financial assistance in support of free and fair elections in the Republic of Moldova,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on human rights in the Republic of Moldova and in unrecognized and self-proclaimed Transnistria, in particular to the resolutions of 16 March 2006, of 26 October 2006, of 12 July 2007 and of 5 May 2009,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Republic of Moldova,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership launched in May 2009 recognised the Republic of Moldova’s European aspirations and the importance of Moldova as a country with deep historical, cultural and economic links with the Member States of the European Union,
B. whereas the Union views stability and good governance as premises for economic development in its neighbouring countries, including the Republic of Moldova,
C. whereas in its May 2010 European Neighbourhood Policy Progress Report the Commission welcomed Moldova’s progress in most of the areas of the Action Plan; whereas the Union’s policy within the Eastern Partnership shall be customized for each state and based on the merits and progress made by the state solely,
D. whereas the macroeconomic indicators show a positive development of the economy in 2010 despite the challenging international situation,
E. whereas on 10 September 2010 the Moldovan Parliament ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,
F. having regard to the Union’s preoccupation for solving the situation in the unrecognized region of Transnistria,
G. whereas negotiations concerning the Transnistria settlement in the so called ‘5+2 Format’, in which Moldova, the Transnistrian region of Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE are participating, with the EU and the USA as,
H. having regard to the results of the referendum on the reform of the Constitution of 5 September 2010 and to the decision to hold early Parliamentary elections on November 28, 2010,
I. whereas the Parliament supports the Republic of Moldova’s European aspirations as well as the path towards European integrations and it closely follows the developments in the Republic of Moldova as well as its relations with the European Union,
1. Congratulates the Republic of Moldova authorities for their commitments to democracy, rule of law and structural reforms as well as for their achievements during their first year in office and the progress in relation to the European Union, for the benefits of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova;
2. Congratulates the Government of the Republic of Moldova which, following the Parliamentary elections of 29 July 2009, addressed shortcomings in the fields of democracy, rule of law and human rights;
3. Welcomes the adoption on 8 October 2010 of the 2010 - 2011 Reform Priorities in the European Integration Field by the Governmental Commission for European Integration;
4. Welcomes the beginning of negotiations on the Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on 12 January 2010 and takes note with satisfaction of the very good results the Commission receives from the Republic of Moldova in this process;
5. Welcomes the launch of the visa dialogue between the Union and Moldova aiming to visa liberalisation on 15 June 2010;
6. Welcomes the informal meetings that took place in the ‘5+2’ Format regarding the Transnistria settlement efforts since June 2009; expresses confidence that the 5+2 Format is the suitable environment for reaching a stable solution to the Transnistria conflict and calls upon the parts to return to formal negotiations in this format at the earliest possible time;
7. Expects Moldovan authorities to pursue the reforms needed and fulfil their commitments to keep the Republic of Moldova on the track for a steady European integration;
8. Calls on the Council to invite the Commission to proceed to quickly developing the road-map for the visa liberalisation at its next meeting on 25 October 2010, thus entering into the fully operational phase of the visa dialogue, based on the Republic of Moldova’s progress following the exploratory talks on the 4 Blocks of the visa dialogue;
9. Expresses its confidence that the negotiations on the Free Trade Area with the EU, as part of the Association Agreement, will swiftly move forward and further strengthen the economic relations between Moldova and the Union as well as stimulate foreign direct investments in Moldova; recognizes the improvements in the business environment and the regulatory framework of entrepreneurial activity as a key measure to attract investments;
10. Highlights the importance of implementing the reform of the judiciary as a matter of utmost priority, strengthening the fight against organised crime and corruption as also underlined in the action plan for implementing the judicial reform; welcomes the approval of the action plan for implementing the judicial reform by the Moldovan Government in October 2009 and encourages the Moldovan authorities to put these measures in practice immediately;
11. Notes the Republic of Moldova’s progress in the fight against corruption as pointed out by the improvement in the Transparency International ranking and shares the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) consideration that Moldova has made significant progress in implementing its recommendations;
12. Underlines the need to strengthen the people’s confidence in the institutions of the state, especially following the institutions’ violent interventions during the April 2009 events and expects that all those found responsible for the violence following the April 2009 elections be brought to justice, as requested by the resolution of the European Parliament of 9. May 2009 on the Situation in the Republic of Moldova[1];
13. Stresses that the resolution of the Transnistrian issue constitutes a crucial element for promoting political stability and economic prosperity in the Republic of Moldova and the region; reiterates its support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and points out that a more robust EU role in finding a solution to the Transnistrian question is needed;
14. Welcomes the Meseberg initiative on solving the Transnistrian Conflict, initiated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and believes that a foreign minister-level security forum could contribute towards a sustainable solution of the conflict together with its partners;
15. Notes the low turn-out at the referendum on the reform of the Constitution and urges political leaders to encourage citizens to take part in any electoral activities; distances itself from any politician or political party that aims at discouraging citizens from their right to vote;
16. Notes the decision of the Acting President of the Republic of Moldova to organize early parliamentary elections on 28 November 2010 and expects that measures will be taken to ensure the effectiveness of the right to vote of Moldovan citizens living abroad; calls on the authorities in the breakaway region of Transnistria not to prevent Moldovan citizens from taking part in the voting process;
17. Concludes that the current authorities has delivered on the reforms it committed itself towards the European Institutions and other international partners;
18. Expresses its confidence that the results of the early parliamentary elections on 28 November 2010 will ensure that further reforms needed by the Republic of Moldova are pursued as a matter of utmost priority;
19. Calls on the Commission and Council to keep up the level of the political dialogue with the Republic of Moldova;
20. Calls on the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova to take part in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly according to the Constituent Act of the Assembly;
21. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, the Member States and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of Moldova.
- [1] Texts adopted, P6_TA(2009)0384.