Brussels, 28 October 2002
(Second edition) 

PRESS HANDOUT 

The Stability Pact and Moldova 

What is the Stability Pact?

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, and currently serves as the regional co-chair of Working Table III (Security Issues). 

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

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

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

Ø       Working Table III – Security Issues has one Sub-table dealing with Security and Defence Issues, and one Sub-table dealing with Justice and Home Affairs.

So far, two Regional Conferences have taken place with the more 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.

___________________

PH2002/054

Stability Pact activities in Moldova

Working Table I: Human Rights and Democratisation

Gender Task Force (GTF)

Moldavian women did an excellent work in WCDIthe "Women Can Do It" project thanks to the Austrian donation.  The project“Women can do it” started its activity in November 2001.  The project was meant to develop a network of women active in political parties of the Republic of Moldova that are going to work together for the equality of opportunities between men and women.  The general objective of the project was to prepare women, candidates from the main political parties and independent candidates (for local counsellors and mayors) that will participate in the future local elections.  Specific objectives of the project are women’s preparation for the political life, for fulfilling their mandate and building solidarity between women in order to introduce gender issues in the political platforms and agendas of political parties.

In order to better develop this project, a National Board (November 2001) was created, with the following members: 6 representatives of NGOs, 1 from the union, 1 from the OSCE, 1 from the Office of the President, 1 from the Government, 1 from the Parliament.  The project was organized in three stages, having as a target group the future candidates in next local elections in 2003 to be conducted in the Republic of Moldova.  The budget of the project was 27'500 Euro.

In the first stage 14 teams were trained, 2 trainers each, in the first stage (within the seminar of training the trainers, 24-27 January, 2002); In the second stage 370 future candidates were instructed during the second stage (by attending 15 local seminars, within the period March-May 2002); In the third stage an evaluation seminar was organized (the third stage of the project, 29 June 2002). 

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: 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,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.

Non-Discrimination Review (NDR)

Moldova is actively participating in this exercise.  It has a well-organised country group consisting of four independent experts that are carrying out the review in Moldova (Mrs. Stoianova, Mr. Ostaf, Mr. Nagacevschi and Mr. Volcinschi).  They submitted their preliminary assessment report on time.

As a result of the NDR meeting's discussions and exchanges of views, the Moldova Country group decided to limit the target areas for in-depth analysis to three topics (cults; use of language in education; Roma).  This is a positive development, as it is paramount to put forward concrete and realistic proposals.  As far as the legislative antidiscrimination framework of the country is concerned, recommendations to improve the anti-discrimination legislation and to amend the law on education are being formulated.

Acceptance and Implementation of Existing Standards
— Bilateral Co-operation  

Moldova is also part of the two other minority related Stability Pact projects ("Acceptance and implementation of existing standards" and "Bilateral cooperation").  In autumn 2002, a series of activities will be organised to raise awareness for the ratification of Protocol 12 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.  On 31 May, a round table took place in Chisinau on "Protection of National Minorities through Bilateral Agreements concluded by Moldova".  Both initiatives are undertaken and organised in partnership with the Moldavian Helsinki Committee and the Centre for Minority Issues in Moldova.

Task Force ”Education and Youth”

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

An OECD Thematic Review on the educational system in Moldova has been finalized and published in June 2002.  This document offers policy recommendations to the government and donors.  Additionally, consultations with the Ministry of Education are ongoing on the organisation of a conference in the near future, which will offer the opportunity for consultation processes on national and regional education reform strategies, and for promoting cooperation networks among regional key actors and donors.

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).

In a second stage, in late May 2002, within a call for proposals, the Task Force ”Education and Youth” has selected a number of projects within the areas "Education for Democratic Citizenship", Youth and History / History Teaching.  Once funding is secured for these projects, Moldova will participate in 11 more initiatives.

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.

In April 2002, a Media Working Group in Moldova has been established by representatives from media outlets, non-governmental organizations and the Moldavian government.  The groups has met eight times, prepared an action plan, started their first project and is supported financially by the government of Switzerland.

During the meetings, the group discussed challenges for Moldavian media: absence of a sound legal framework for media activities, low level of journalism training, excessive politicisation of news coverage and lack of professional solidarity among journalists with different ethnic backgrounds.  They spoke at large about problems with access to information and precarious economic conditions hampering the development of balanced and professional media in Moldova.

On the basis of these discussion, the group prepared an Action Plan for the Moldavian media, which includes recommendations such as: democratising media legislation, promoting principles of professional ethics, eliminating censorship, continuous professional training of journalists and a transformation of the state company Teleradio Moldova into a genuinely public broadcast institution.

Importantly, the Media Working Group announced the start of the first project: a thorough analysis of the current legal framework that regulates the operation of the mass media in Moldova.

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.

Women parliamentarians attended a conference in Istanbul in March 2002 and contributed in the discussions on the role of women parliamentarians in conflict prevention.

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 Issues

Moldova is the Regional Co-Chair of Working Table III

Sub-Table on Justice and Home Affairs

Stability Pact Initiative to fight Organised Crime (SPOC)

Moldova is a very active member of the Initiative Against Organised Crime, and its participation in SPOC predates its entry into the Stability Pact in June 2001.  Moldova, working with the Steering Committee of SPOC, has completed the required assessment exercise and is now participating in project identification.

Stability Pact Initiative against Trafficking in Human Beings

This is a major concern for Moldova, one of the main regional sources of victims.  Working with the Stability Pact Task Force, Moldova developed a National Action Plan which identifies priority activities such as awareness raising through the Centre for the Prevention of Trafficking in Women; addressing social and economic causes of human trafficking, and reforming legislation and enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies.

Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative (SPAI)

Moldova jointed the SPAI initiative in 2001 (predating is entry into the Stability Pact).  Moldova has developed an Action Plan that includes regular exchanges of information between government offices and civil society representatives.  This exchange of information is the basis on which a new cooperative approach against corruption has been built.  As well, Moldova has embarked on a programme of reform of the judiciary system and has launched a public awareness raising campaign on corruption