Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRUSSELS919
2006-03-16 16:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

MOLDOVA'S EU AMBASSADOR ON EU/MOLDOVA RELATIONS

Tags:  PREL PGOV MD XH EUN USEU BRUSSELS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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)

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
.