The Pact is a political initiative to encourage and strengthen co-operation between the countries of South Eastern Europe as well as to streamline existing efforts for assisting South Eastern Europe’s political, economic and security integration in Europe. The Pact does not implement the projects, which were placed under its auspices. It is an instrument to co-ordinate and possibly accelerate the projects of all its partners, such as the European Commission, NATO and OSCE, the International Financial Institutions, the member states of the European Union, other Stability Pact partners such as the United States, Russia, Hungary, Canada, Norway and Switzerland as well as all the countries of South Eastern Europe. Moldova joined the Stability Pact at the Regional Table meeting, on 28 June 2001 in Brussels.

Under the Regional Table, its sharingsteering body, the Stability Pact has
3 Working Tables:

• Working Table I is dealing with Democratisation & Human Rights;

• Working Table II with Economic Reconstruction, Development and Co-operation;

• Working Table III with Security (one Sub-table Security and Defence, one Sub-table Justice and Home Affairs).

So far, two Regional Conferences have taken place with the most recent one on 25 and 26 October 2001 in Bucharest: On this event, ministers and high level officials from 37 countries and 32 international organisations renewed their commitment to long term economic and social development for South Eastern Europe. A new set of 27 infrastructure projects secured donor financing of € 2.4 bn, with 2 of these projects involving a total cost of € 36.27 mn being implemented in Moldova.

At a first Funding Conference in Brussels on 30 March 2000, € 2,4 bn were raised, which translated in the so-called Quick Start Package, with a total of 244 regional projects. One year later, 82% of these projects were started, making it one of the fastest assistance packages by the international community. Moldova has, by now, been incorporated in some of these projects, which are still ongoing.

Stability Pact activities in Moldova

Working Table I: Human Rights and Democratisation

Gender Task Force (GTF)

Stability Pact Gender Task Force Chair Ms Sonja Lokar made her first mission to Moldova in October 2001. The aim of the mission WAS to inform the government and the parliamentary officials about the work of the GTF in the region and to get the nomination for the GTF government and parliamentary focal point persons.

The mission became possible through the Austrian donation that supported the "Women Can Do It" capacity building programme to train future women politicians. Based on the Norwegian grass root model of political empowerment of women through awareness building, networking, lobbying and training of skills needed in political engagement, this project would enable timely preparation of women for the local elections in spring 2002 in Moldova.

Human Rights and National Minorities Task Force

Within the Stability Pact Human Rights and National Minorities Task Force, Moldova is part of 4 regional projects (see Addendum, pp.6-7): the campaign "Link Diversity" aims at raising awareness of the values and principles of a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society and democratic citizenship. Moldova is involved in a total of 3 Council of Europe legal and policy measures projects on minorities (Non-Discrimination Review, Bilateral Co-operation Agreements and the Acceptance and Implementation of Existing Standards). The projects pursue to produce legal recommendations on legislation and practice on national minorities in the country.

Task Force "Education and Youth"

Moldova is currently involved in 4 regional Quick Start Projects with a total value of € 600'420.

The "OECD Thematic Reviews of Educational Policy I" formulate recommendations to national policy makers and international partners interested in co-operation in education reforms (€ 228'000).

The "Thematic Reviews of Educational Policy II- Southeast European Co-operation Network (SEE ECN)", are implemented by the University of Ljubljana / CEPS and KulturKontakt Austria. The aim of this initiative is to establish a virtual network and information pool for facilitating the dissemination of information on the development of education and educational systems in the countries of the region ( http://www.see-educoop.net/ — € 225'420 committed).

2 other projects pursue the objective to carry out training for history teachers and to disseminate teaching materials (together: € 147'000).

Media Task Force

It is envisaged that Moldova adopts the Stability Pact Media Charter. To do so, the creation of a National Working Group, a non-governmental body facilitating the implementation of the provisions of the Media Charter is essential. Preparatory work to that end was started in Moldova. (So far, seven SEE countries have National Working Groups established).

Parliamentary Co-operation

On 19-20 June 2001 the first Stability Pact seminar on parliamentary ethics was held in Chisinau. It was organised by the Moldavian Parliament, the Strasbourg based Institute for International Democracy and the Council of Europe.

Working Table II: Economic Reconstruction

Trade

On 27 June 2001, 7 South East European countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation in Brussels. The major aim of the MoU is to complete a network of free trade agreements in the region by the end of 2002, thereby creating a market of up to 55 million consumers. The agreements will be fully in line with WTO rules and with relevant obligations of each signatory country vis-à-vis the EU. Moldova has taken on these commitments of the MoU in a Statement of Intent. The country participates in the Working Group on Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation of the Stability Pact. Work has begun to identify areas where Moldova needs assistance regarding institutional trade reforms.

Infrastructure

On the Second Regional Conference on 25 and 26 October 2001 in Bucharest, financing of 2 infrastructure projects with a total value of € 36.27 mn have been secured for Moldova:

• The transport and road project "Drumul M3 Chisinau-Cimislia-Comrat-Vulcanesi-Giurgiulesti (Romania)" aims to improve the infrastructure links between Moldova and Romania. The project of a total value of € 27.9 mn will be under the lead of the World Bank.

• The project "Trade and Transport Facilitation in Southeast Europe" (TTFSE) of a total value of € 8.37 mn and under the lead of the World Bank equally intends to improve the border infrastructure in the region, notably border posts and customs clearances, thereby creating the conditions for enhanced trade opportunities both between the countries in the region as well as between the region and Western Europe.

Moldova has also started building up structures for participating in the Stability Pact Investment Compact, led by the OECD.

Working Table III: Security and Defence Issues

Sub-Table Justice and Home Affairs

SP Initiative to fight Organised Crime (SPOC)

Moldova is a very active member of the "Fight against organised crime initiative". The country has been a participating member already before becoming a full partner in the Stability Pact on 28 June 2001. A self-assessment has been performed and reported to the Steering Committee; concrete activities will be identified following an in-depth assessment with international experts.

Trafficking in Human Beings

This phenomenon is a major concern for Moldova as one of the main sources of origin. A National Action Plan has been elaborated and adopted on 19 October 2001. It identifies priority activities such as awareness raising through the Center for the Prevention of trafficking in women; addressing social and economic causes of trafficking in human beings or legislation reform and law enforcement (see Addendum, p10).

Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative (SPAI)

Moldova jointed the SPAI initiative at the Conference on the commitment of Civil society in fighting the corruption, held in Cavtat (Croatia) 17-18 September 2001. There, Moldova also approved an Action Plan where government and civil society representatives agreed on regular exchange of information and co-operation in the reform of the judiciary system or on launching a public awareness campaign on corruption. The total budget of the project amounts to € 263'560 (see Addendum, pp 8-9)

ADDENDUM 1

Working Table I:

Human Rights and National Minorities

Awareness Raising Campaign "Link Diversity"

Moldova has embraced this initiative very rapidly establishing immediately the National Organising Committee (NOC) to help the implementation of the campaign. NOC structure, consisting of 17 representatives, shows the very diverse nature of the NGO community in Moldova (National Farmers' Union, National Youth Council, Association of Historians, Ecological Movement, Independent Journalism Centre, Association of Jewish Organisations, Helsinki Federation). Moldova has put forward several projects on cross-border co-operation. Mr Nicolae Chirtoaca, president of the local NGO "Invisible College" is the President of the NOC.

The Link Diversity project is conceived as a common initiative of the countries in Southeastern Europe supported by the Council of Europe, with its key objectives of promotion and rehabilitation of multi-ethnic and multicultural society and development of democratic citizenship. The campaign forms an important part of the wider effort to bring about sustainable stability in Southeastern Europe. The National Organising Committees that have been set up in all participating countries have prepared projects that will promote the concepts of plural identity and the civil link.

Legal and Policy Measures Projects

Moldova is involved in all the three Council of Europe legal and policy measures projects on minorities (Non-Discrimination Review, Bilateral Co-operation Agreements and the Acceptance and Implementation of Existing Standards). The objective of this exercise is to produce a framework of legal recommendations on legislation and practice on national minorities in SEE. These projects form an indispensable complement to the public-oriented awareness raising campaign "Link Diversity". An independent expert, responsible for these projects, has been appointed.

The Non-Discrimination Review

Acceptance and Implementation of Existing Standards

* Bilateral co-operation agreements

ADDENDUM 2

Working Table III

Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative

The Government and civil society representatives agree to support the following actions:

Regular research and analysis on corruption in the country

• Assessment of economic and social consequences of corruption (evaluation of total loss for the state budget, tax evasion, indicators related to fiscal and economic discipline);

• Carrying out of opinion polls in order to evaluate the public perception of corruption in various sectors of economic activities and public institutions;

• Preparing and editing regular booklets and a book on assessment of corruption and the main strategies to tackle corruption by government and civil society;

• Editing and translating the "Transparency International Source Book" as a National guide on fighting corruption for public officials, dissemination of the book among public officials, NGOs, public libraries;

• Development of an anti-corruption programme for the University and college students.

Collaboration with the Government

• Organisation of regular meetings between NGOs and representatives of the Government in order to exchange information (a preliminary agreement with the Court of Accounts, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice has been reached);

• Preparing proposals for the National Program for Fighting Corruption. Monitoring of its implementation;

• Proposals concerning the reform of the judiciary system in order to provide access to justice and ensure the independent functioning of the judicial sphere;

• Proposals on preventing corruption in public procurement;

• Proposals on tackling corruption among tax inspection authorities;

• Proposals on tackling corruption in customs service;

• Expertise on draft legislation (such as laws on public procurement, money laundering, bankruptcy, lobbying)

Public awareness campaigns

• Creation of an information unit and setting up of a web site on corruption issues that will include all available information on the country such as: legislation; reports of the Court of Accounts and of Tax Inspection; Ministry of Internal Affairs’ initiatives; reports of TI-Moldova and other NGOs; articles from information agencies and newspapers;

• Organisation of two national anti-corruption conferences in the Republic of Moldova (first conference to be organised at the beginning of the project and the second at the end).

• Organising contests for the best articles on corruption issues and placing them on the web site;

• Taking part in TV programs on corruption issues;

• Preparing a publicity film (video spot) related to integrity and transparency;

• Organising workshops - for government representatives, NGOs, businessmen - about the harmful consequences of corruption for the economic, social and democratic development of the country.

The total budget of the project is US$ 299'500.

UNDP – Moldova is ready to assist Transparency International – Moldova with US$ 150'000 for the implementation of the first half of the project (18 months).

USAID is ready to finance the activities on tackling corruption in tax inspection and custom services (about US$ 30'000).

In order to successfully implement the entire project, Transparency International -Moldova needs additional funding from donors for a total of US$ 120'000.

ADDENDUM 3

Moldova’s National Action Plan "Trafficking in Human Beings", adopted on 19 October 2001

Governmental Coordinator

Deputy Prime Minister

Mr. Valerian CRISTEA

Tel: +373 2 233.822, 237.447

Fax: +373 2 242.696, 234.631

National Action Plan

A final draft has been prepared and will be approved at the national level on 19 October 2001.

National Priorities

Research and Assessment

IOM study on trafficking patterns and mechanisms in the framework of broader criminalisation and prosecution has been started in October 2001 and will be finalised in June 2002. It is funded by SIDA.

Awareness raising

Center for the Prevention of Trafficking in Women brochures, leaflets and hotline (funded by US Embassy/UNDP).

La Strada - prevention and education seminars for the group of risk in educational institutions throughout the country; information seminars and training for youth organisations, July 2001 - January 2002 (with further eventual continuation).

NGO "Gender Center" - training courses for students on trafficking and its consequences, March 25, 2001 - March 25, 2002, (funded by US Embassy).

Prevention/addressing social and economic causes

"Save the Children" - services for street children and children in orphanages.

Assistance and support for victims, return, reintegration

IOM - shelter with medical and psychological assistance (16+places), January 2001 - January 2002 (co-funded by SDC).

Legislation reform

OSCE/ODHIR, ABA/CEELI, IOM - Legislation Review Project, drafting amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes together with Parliament experts, summer 2001 - spring 2002 (funded by US Department of State and US Department of Justice).

Law enforcement

NGO "Civic Initiative" - training and technical assistance program: anti-domestic violence and trafficking in women and children (seminars for NGOs and Law Enforcement representatives, law students, Police Academy students), starting with September 1999, (Winrock International through State Department / INL support).