[Info-Prim Neo article from the series “2011: how it was and how it wasn’t”] {“Moldova, closer to the EU?”, in the opinion of Victor Chirila, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association (APE) } From the European integration perspective, 2011 was a successful year, according to Victor Chirila. The instability in the country is accompanied by a higher democracy level and a higher degree of competitiveness between the main political parties that are represented in Parliament. “I must say that despite this relative instability, the AEI remained united when pleading the European integration cause, when laws on the liberalization of the visa regime were discussed in Parliament, in the process of liberalizing the trade with the EU or negotiating the Association Agreement,” said Victor Chirila. According to him, the European integration process was slower owing to the problems faced by the AEI, but anyway progress was made and this fact is confirmed by the reports of the European Commission on Moldova and the reports of different experts who monitored the implementation of the action plan on visa liberalization. “Things advanced in the right direction and, owing to this fact, Moldova practically finished the negotiation of the political part of the Association Agreement with the EU. This month it was decided to open the talks on the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Next February, there will be launched the second stage of implementing the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization. In this respect, real results were achieved in the European integration area, said Victor Chirila. He also said that there is a problem and thus the real progress made is not sensed by the Moldovans. The Moldovan authorities and the EU must make effort so that the Moldovans benefit from the advantages provided by the Eastern Partnership as the people want results. [Any experience, even negative, is positive] Speaking about Moldova’s relations with the most important partners in the integration process, Victor Chirila said that results were achieved in this field as well, namely with such countries as Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. “As regards Romania, both Chisinau and Bucharest should propose a common action plan that would give substance to the strategic partnership and the European integration process. The steps should be better coordinated and Romania’s experience in different areas connected with the European integration should be widely used, either in reforming the Ministry of the Interior, improving border management or even combating corruption – the area where Romania is toughly criticized by the EU. However, we can learn from Romania’s experience so as not to repeat the mistakes and not to experience the same situation as Romania, when there will be taken for example the political decision on the liberalization of the visa regime,” said Victor Chirila. According to the analyst, any experience, even if it is negative, is positive for a country that wants to learn something. As to the relations between Moldova and Ukraine, Victor Chirila said the resolving of the Palanca issue opened a much larger area for political and economic cooperation, including in the European integration process. “Palanca launched the process of restoring the trust between Chisinau and Kiev and I hope this will lead to a more substantial agenda aimed at developing the Moldovan-Ukrainian relations, including within the Eastern Partnership. Moldova must establish a team feeling with Ukraine over the issues where we can be more efficient to convince the EU. I mean again the visa liberalization. I think we must work more efficiently in this field,” said the executive director of the APE. Victor Chirila also said that in the Transnistrian issue, where Ukraine is active, Moldova must assume greater responsibilities, especially as regards the transformation of the Transnistria region so as to create conditions for the country’s reunification. “With Russia, we have a predictable and stable dialogue. I wouldn’t say that it is intense, but it is regular. We had many meetings at the level of Prime Ministers on the occasions of the CIS events, and even at the level of Presidents, there were consultations. Dialogue exists and this is very important, if we want to reach compromises over the existing problems, if we want to overcome the existing stereotypes, especially when we discuss our history, the recent and the distant one,” said Victor Chirila. He also said that Russia exaggerates when it speaks about the protection of the rights of the Russian minorities and Moldova should prove through dialog that things stand differently. “Our authorities want them (the Russian ethnics – e.n.) to be active citizens and take part in the social and political processes that take place in Moldova. The Friendship Treaty between Moldova and Russia is also a positive sign,” said Victor Chirila, adding Article 5 of the Treaty says the parties do not support the separatist regimes. “With the U.S., we have a partnership that is based on Moldova’s commitment to continue the democratic reforms and to come closer to the EU. Until this commitment exists, the U.S. will show openness. It proved this openness and its political and financial support through the visit paid to Moldova by the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden this year,” said Victor Chirila. [The political developments can contribute to fostering trends, but can also have a negative impact] In 2012 these trends may continue, said Victor Chirila. “The political developments can contribute to fostering these trends, but can also have a negative impact if we witness a re-forming of the government, which will also contribute to the modification of the foreign policy priorities. This thing is very dangerous and can jeopardize the commitments made to the EU and can lead to the deterioration of the relations with the EU,” he stated. In the end, the APE director said the relations with Romania are very important for the stability of the relations with the EU. [Dumitrita Ciuvaga, Info-Prim Neo]