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‘All the reforms we are making are for us, for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova' - Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, in the interview for the program 'The Diplomatic Dimension'

15-08-2024 00:00
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Diplomatic dimension: For the first time, the first Intergovernmental Conference regarding starting the negotiations between the European Union and a candidate country was not held in Brussels. The European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, arrived in Chisinau on 10 July and the bilateral screening procedure was launched. What does the bilateral screening mean in practical terms and how long will it take?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: In July we started the second phase of the screening in which we identify the differences between European legislation and our national legislation. By May, over four months, we completed the first screening – the explanatory period, where we became aware of European legislation. Now, in the second phase, experts from the European Commission will become aware of our national legislation.

 

At this stage, groups of civil servants will go to Brussels, we hope that more meetings will take place in Chisinau for this exchange of information. We will present national legislation for each of the 33 chapters and two criteria, and we will identify as far as we are from European standards in our national legislation. We have a good timetable. The first session took place in July and the next session will take place in the second half of September. This timeline will last around 12 to 18 months.

 

DD: And after which step will it follow?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: The next step is the opening of the negotiations themselves. When we complete the first group of chapters, or the so-called Cluster 1 ‘Fundamentals’, the European Commission is about to produce an evaluation report, tell us how they see things at home. This report will then be presented to the Council of the European Union, which will decide whether and when negotiations will be opened for the first group of chapters.

 

We hope that the report will be presented to the Council in January so that negotiations can start in the first months of next year. From that stage, we are virtually entering several levels of discussions with the European Commission and Member States, where we continue to advance with the bilateral screening on the chapters that have not yet been covered, and in parallel we will already start negotiations per group of chapters.

 

DD: In the autumn last year, the European Commission made a number of recommendations to the Republic of Moldova on the areas of this Cluster called ‘Fundamentals’. As far as we know, the assessment is carried out in two parallel ways. The Government of the Republic of Moldova, the authorities of Chisinau, send an implementation report on these recommendations, while on the other hand it is civil society that prepares an independent report on the same areas. Recently, a number of NGOs submitted a first independent report. Their progress score to meet these recommendations is on average 3,2. We have more progress on security and we are lagging behind on freedom of expression. How do you rate these results?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Cluster 1 was evaluated over a year. So, what the Government managed to do from June last year to June 2024. It was a year with many events and we made progress, but it is clear that we can achieve more progress. At the same time, as mentioned above, Cluster 1 is the most complicated group of chapters, dealing with justice reform, fundamental reforms. We are about to open negotiations with this group of chapters, but we will also conclude negotiations with this group. I would say that our civil society note is one on which we can work, but is already showing progress in these areas.

 

DD: The actual negotiations will start more than in half a year or more, but fears already arise in society in various areas. It is said, for example, that Europeans, as a result of the negotiations, will force us to market agricultural land and land to foreigners, that we could be forced to grub up the dreams, etc. On the one hand, it would seem that we will negotiate how and when we undertake European standards and legislation, and, on the other hand, the European Union has common policies, including the agricultural policy, with which we will have to align, but decisions are taken at Community and not national level. In practice, what will we negotiate? Who will determine the group of negotiators – the Government, the relevant ministry? What are our national interests in various areas and who will decide where to make concessions? 

 

Cristina Gherasimov: First, it is important to remember that the European Union does not impose anything on usAll the reforms we are doing are for us, for the people of Moldova. We make them a better and more decent life, and aligning with European standards is the process by which we transform our country, we are ready to enjoy the same European standards. In some areas, these transformations will be difficult and in others simpler.

 

In areas where the connection to EU law will be a longer or costly process for our country, the negotiating element comes into play. We will be able to negotiate certain longer periods of implementation of the acquis. It is true that these fakes are about to intoxic our information space, make us believe less in our European future and ask questions: But do we really want this as a society? Do we really want to be part of the European Union?

 

At the same time, it is our duty to communicate as much as possible about the European Union and the benefits it offers, in order to understand clearly which concerns are true and false. When it comes to real concerns, here is my role to engage as much as possible, which I do. We have constant meetings with representatives of business, civil society and extra parliamentary political parties, where I tell us about what we are doing and how we move in the negotiation process. I hope that this communication and dialogue will help to reduce doubts or concerns about our European journey.

 

DD: And who will decide on the negotiations?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: The Government has the mandate to negotiate with the European Union. We are a team with 35 working groups, each of which corresponds to a negotiating chapter. Each working group comprises numerous state institutions, including representatives of civil society. The negotiating parameters, the topics we have to do at home, are discussed here, then we will proceed to the drafting of negotiating positions. It is still premature to talk about these positions, but will be consulted with the Parliament, the National Commission for European Integration and will of course be approved by the Government. So, the responsibility lies with the Government, but the process involves the Parliament and the Presidency, which is not only informed and consulted, but participates in the preparation of our negotiating positions. This is only a process that follows.

 

DD: (...) How do we negotiate, however, taking into account the realities of the Transnistrian region, which has a different legislative framework, has a monetary system, a tax system, etc., including as Chisinau does not have control over this region?  

 

Cristina Gherasimov: The Government of the Republic of Moldova negotiates for all citizens of the Republic of Moldova, regardless of where they reside – either in the Gagauzia or in the Transnistrian region. From this perspective, discussions are between Chisinau and Brussels. The Gagauzia autonomy or the Transnistrian region are parts of the Republic of Moldova. In this respect, the Government negotiates for the whole country.

 

It is important, however, to stress that our citizens have the same interests regardless of where or where they live – everyone wants to have access to high-quality public services, good kindergartens, schools with quality education, decent wages and pensions. So, regardless of the area of residence, the Government negotiates for all its citizens. That is to say, we are integrated as a single state.

 

DD: (...) Will negotiations now be the same as a package with Ukraine or will we discuss apart? If you are aware of Kyiv’s official position on this decoupling and how will the war in Ukraine influence the negotiation process?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: During the first phase of the negotiations, the screening phase, we are going with Ukraine on the same timetable. We had the same explanatory screening sessions in Brussels, where colleagues from Ukraine were present alongside us in the room. Together, we put questions to colleagues in the European Commission. Similarly, for the next step, bilateral screening, we have a very similar timeline – in the same week we go through a screening session for a chapter, after which Ukrainians will go through the same session for exactly the same chapter, or vice versa. In any case, we remain on the same schedule.

 

But it is very important that the accession process based on the individual merits of each country. These individual merits will find them when we move to the next stage – that of the negotiations themselves. Based on screening or evaluation reports, we will understand how much we still work internally to reach the same standards to succeed in enjoying the same standards as Europeans. Ukraine will have the same information, but the domestic workload will be different.  That is, when the actual negotiations are opened, each country will advance at its own pace.

 

DD: I have the impression that the Republic of Moldova no longer had a negotiating experience of also breadth, complexity and multidimensional nature, all in a single package. Taking this into account, and that there is a crisis of frameworks and experts in the field in the Republic of Moldova, what are we doing? I know that you are talking to European partners who are willing to share with us from their experience. Which of these experiences, which states are closest to our situation? How will it be possible to share this knowledge? If you see the involvement of diasporas in the future?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: We are in daily contact with many countries, in particular those that have more recently joined the European Union, including at working group level. We are working very well with colleagues from other candidate countries, such as Albania, North Macedonia, as they have completed a phase where we are just starting to work. Their recent experience is very useful to understand what needs to be reflected in the bilateral screening process and other aspects.

 

We work very closely with Romania at all levels and chapters. I was recently in Bucharest, where I discussed the possibility of working closer together in preparing for the screening of Cluster 1 chapters. We discussed new training opportunities. We also have discussions with the Baltic States. We have a truly unprecedented openness to support and strengthen our capacities internally.

 

But we are not the first country to start from very little. The Government is already working to empower state institutions. Depending on the needs of the negotiation process, we will continue to work more closely with civil society, with whom we already work very actively, but also with diaspora members. (...)

 

DD: In this short period, we had several deadlines on when we should finalise the negotiations and start the accession process. Initially, it was 2030, then 2029, and Latvian officials ensured that they could happen at that time, as they would hold the presidency (EU, red.). Even 2027, as by then President Macron (Emmanuel Macron, President of France, red.) will also terminate his mandate. Is the negotiation process technical, political or both?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Both. It is a political process because the final decision on Moldova’s accession to the European Union is taken by 27 EU Member States. At the same time, it is a technical process, guided by the European Commission, through which we analyse national legislation and plan to align with European standards. Internally, we plan to be ready for accession in 2030. For the accession to take place in 2030, we should conclude the negotiation process approximately one and a half or two years before, i.e. in early 2028. That term comes from this.

 

We very much enjoy the openness of all Member States and, regardless of who will be at the forefront of the Presidency of the European Union at the time, I am sure that it will support us, as long as we are engaged in a genuine reform process. It is important not to mimic the reforms, because the negotiation process can be stopped or put on hold whenever we see some backsliding.

 

DD: The presidential elections will take place in the autumn, but also the referendum on the European vector of the Republic of Moldova. According to the latest IMAS survey, around 40-41 % of respondents see this referendum unnecessary, while only 52 % think it would be necessary and its impact positive. If the referendum moves to the limit – I do not want to accept the situation in which it will fail – what will be the strength of the negotiating group’s mandate and how will it be seen in Brussels?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Any referendum entails certain risks. I saw even in societies where scepticism towards the referendum was small as things came back too beautiful. But we are embarking on an irreversible process on a path that will take us to the European Union. This decision also lies primarily with the citizens of the Republic of Moldova – not the Government, not a ministry, not the chief negotiator or the President of the country – so it is for the country to decide. It is therefore very important that on 20 October every citizen of the Republic of Moldova comes to the vote and expresses his or her position: he or she wants in the European Union or not. This will be the strongest political signal, both for us, as a country, internally and for the Member States of the European Union – if we really, as a country, are committed to this process.

 

20 October is probably the second most important national decision after becoming an independent and sovereign state. That is why I encourage absolutely all Moldovan citizens, who have the right to vote, whether at home or abroad, to treat this decision and this date (20 October) very seriously and find time to go to the ballot boxes.

 

DD: The current budget of the European Union for the period 2021-2027 was adopted when there was no planned accession of Ukraine or the Republic of Moldova to the EU, i.e. no expenditure articles were foreseen for the pre-accession funds. MEP Siegfried Mureșan said that pre-accession money would reach Moldova in the new budget period, i.e. after 2027. By then, how we manage to implement the reforms and changes that require money, but also a strong argument for ordinary people in favour of EU integration.  

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Yes – you're right. We have advanced very quickly over the last two years and something, since I applied for membership. For some countries, the period between applying and becoming a candidate country was much longer. For example, North Macedonia waited 17 years between granting candidate status and starting negotiations. So, in two years we managed to do a lot.

 

Indeed, the multiannual financial framework of the European Union is decided every 7 years. Equally true, neither the COVID-19 pandemic nor the war in Ukraine was foreseen in the EU budget. However, the European Union has shown a lot of flexibility and ingenuity, or creativity if you want, to find the necessary finances to help both Member States and third countries, such as Ukraine, to withstand Russia’s invasion.

 

From this perspective, what I have seen over the last two years, the European Union has been a great deal of help when money was not planned for the energy crisis we have experienced, nor for Covid, nor for supporting small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. So, the European Union has managed to mobilise funds to stand by us. At the same time, we benefit from different funding instruments, even though the instrument that is dedicated to the negotiations itself has not been made available to us. These funds will continue to be made available to us.

 

The Government is now working together with the European Commission on a national growth plan. This is another tool for the EU to support us in our process of reviving our economy, which, we are honest, is still affected today by the fact that we have a war at the hotspot and that investors have doubts whether to invest their money in the country.

 

DD: (...) On various online platforms and Telegram channels, the European Union is blamed for everything that happens badly, or what some people think is bad. Either in the Republic of Moldova or in the EU at the Olympic Games – no matter where, the EU is found guilty and its incorrect values. What would you recommend to people to free themselves from frustrations arising from reading these styles?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: The purpose of these disinformation is to ensure that ordinary citizens do not want to be part of the European Union. This is, if you want, the highest risk we face today. Because when we go to vote on 20 October, or in a referendum, our space will already be polluted. Here it is the duty of each of us to check a novelty from multiple information channels. We must not just think of a source, but make sure that when we open a news page or watch a television broadcast, we need to check that information from other sources as well.

 

Interview dated 12.08.2024

 

Video  Diplomatic dimension with Ludmila Barba, Moldova 1

 

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