Policy Memo no.25, February 2012
Coordinators: Cristian Ghinea; Dragos Dinu
Contributors: Alexandra Toderita; Ciprian Ciucu; Paul Ivan
The week in which the governments of the two countries meet in a common government reunion in Iasi, the Romanian Center for European Policies publishes its annual report on the relationship between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Named „ From rebooting relations to accumulating arrears”, the CRPE report covers the most important aspects of cooperation between these two countries in 2011.
To be noted:
– Important progresses regarding the Iași-Ungheni gas pipeline;
– the possible creation of a modern and European cultural center by ICR Chisinau through the rehabilitation of a heritage building in the city centre;
– launching Radio Chisinau in cooperation with the Romanian government and the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Society;
– Romania became the most active EU member state in twinning projects between the EU and Republic of Moldova;
– The National Citizenship Authority became operational, which facilitated receiving and processing applications for regaining citizenship (but there are still things to be improved);
To be criticized:
– The unacceptable delay of the 100 millions of euro promised to Republic of Moldova in 2010;
– The scholarship program for students from RM is poorly managed;
– The Integration Partnership promised through the “Ghimpu – Băsescu” declaration took more than one year to be negotiated and is still waiting for the summer of 2011 to be signed;
– Romanian officials taking advantage of the political crisis in Chisinau as a pretext not to initiate the assistance projects.
What does CRPE recommend?
– Creating a Romanian Development Agency (Ro-Aid) and a Romania-Republic of Moldova Development Fund, in order to manage the promised 100 millions Euros;
– Integrating Republic of Moldova in the energy market liberalization strategy, which the EU requires from Romania. The possibility of Petrom exporting gas in Republic of Moldova, which would alter the balance of power in negotiations between Chisinau and Gazprom (it is cheaper and more reasonable than you might think!)
– TVR to take Radio Chisinau as an example, by launching in two different phases a TV channel dedicated to RM (and settle the ECHR legal case between TVR and Chisinau)
– Improving the management of scholarships awarded to the students from RM;
-Turning Romania into a mature donor country in RM, regardless of the political oscillations of the day .
The report can be downloaded here.
The study is coordinated by Dragoș Dinu and Cristian Ghinea, with the contribution of: Alexandra Toderiță, Ciprian Ciucu, Paul Ivan.
This report was issued as part of the project “Romania Active in European Debates II”, coordinated by the Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE) and financed by the Soros Foundation, part of the Foreign Affairs Initiative.