MOLDOVA'S EU AMBASSADOR ON EU/MOLDOVA RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000919 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MD XH EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: MOLDOVA'S EU AMBASSADOR ON EU/MOLDOVA RELATIONS Classified By: POLCOUNS LEE LITZENBERGER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: According to Moldovan Ambassador to the EU Eugen Carpov, Moldova has four main issues to address in its relations with the EU. First, Moldova is drafting an internal report on the status of the first year of implementation of its European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan with the EU to be presented at the Cooperation Council in April in Luxembourg. Second, Moldova wants to negotiate a visa facilitation regime - similar to the one that Russia already has and that Ukraine is working on. Third, Moldova also wants to sign an energy Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the EU. Finally, Moldova and the EU are discussing what kind of bilateral agreement will replace the existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which expires in 2008. Moldova wants a new agreement that keeps the door open for its European aspirations. Carpov complained that Russia treats Moldova "as a kind of Kaliningrad," as punishment for turning to the EU and for not signing the Kozak Memorandum. End Summary. Status of Moldova's Action Plan -------------- ¶2. (C) In a meeting on March 10 with Poloffs, the Moldovan Ambassador to the EU Eugen Carpov said that his government was preparing an internal report on the status of implementation of the first year of its Action Plan, which is part of the EU's ENP designed to bring political and economic reforms, with short and medium-term priorities, to countries within the ENP; Moldova's Action Plan was adopted on February 22, 2005. Moldova wants to present this report at the Cooperation Council meeting in April in Luxembourg. Carpov hopes to get a better understanding at this meeting from the EU of Moldova's achievements and shortcomings after one year of its Action Plan. In April, he wants to have a documented agreement with the Commission in Luxembourg on the second year goals for implementation of Moldova's Action Plan; he said the same thing has been proposed for Ukraine and he would like to follow suit. Visa Facilitation -------------- ¶3. (C) As a way to help bring its European aspirations into reality for the Moldovan people, Carpov wants to start a dialogue with the EU on visa facilitation. Russia already has such a regime and Ukraine will start discussions on this with the EU; therefore, he wants to follow suit with the Commission on visa facilitation. He said this was vitally important for Moldova because of the limited diplomatic representation of foreign embassies in Chisinau and because of the pending accession of Romania into the EU in 2007. He said that in order for Moldovans to travel to Europe now, the majority have to go to embassies in Bucharest for proper documentation. Therefore, when Romania accedes to the EU next year and introduces a visa regime on Moldova, this will make it that much more difficult for Moldovan citizens to get their visas at embassies in Bucharest. He said that his government is in discussion with Romania on how to make this coming complication easier for Moldovan citizens. MOU on Energy -------------- ¶4. (C) Carpov said that Moldova wants an MOU on energy with the EU. Carpov said letters recently went to EU Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner and Piebalgs on Moldova's desire to achieve an MOU. After Moldova's own gas row with Russia in January, Carpov said that his country wants to better ensure its energy security and it sees an MOU with the EU as part of the equation. When asked what exactly an MOU with the EU on energy would cover, Carpov said it would involve building new interconnected electricity grids to Ukraine and Romania. Moldova does not want to have to rely on energy coming through Transnistria which could be manipulated for political purposes, Carpov said. He said a discussion on electricity projects would be brought up in April at the Cooperation Council. After 2008: Moldova/EU Relationship -------------- ¶5. (C) Ambassador Carpov stated that the biggest question looming over the EU/Moldovan relationship right now is what the status of the partnership will be in 2008 when the current PCA expires. Carpov said that, ideally, Moldova would like to achieve an agreement with the EU that leaves the door open for its European aspirations and recognizes that Moldova has a European perspective. What format this new agreement will take is not clear. Moldova/Russia: "A Kind of Kaliningrad" -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador Carpov said that he does not want the EU to treat Moldova as it does Russia - it wants to be known as a country that has a European trajectory. Recognizing that the Transnistrian conflict hampers the EU's outlook on Moldova, Carpov said that he understands Russia is a key player in solving the conflict but that Russia has to stop treating Moldova "as a kind of Kaliningrad." He said that Russian assertiveness regarding Moldova is attributable to two main factors: a) Moldova's desire to move towards Europe; b) Moldova's decision not to sign the Kozak Memorandum. Russia is trying hard to keep Chisinau in its "sphere" and that is why Moldova wants to have a better, clear perspectives of integration and have an association agreement with the EU. Gray .