EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/345

(2004/C 78 E/0364)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0685/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 March 2002)

Subject: Adverse impact on the EU Member States of constant discrimination against Moldova and its exceptional status

1. As of 1 January 2002, visa requirements were abolished for people of Romanian nationality, in anticipation of Romania's possible accession to the EU, while the majority of residents of the neighbouring state of Moldova likewise have a right to Romanian nationality because their parents or grandparents were born before 28 June 1940 in what was then Romanian territory. What consequences will this have? Will it result in mass migration by Romanians from the far poorer Moldova to future EU territory?

2. In the future, if and when Romania becomes an EU Member State, will it be obliged to introduce a visa requirement for all other Moldovans? Is this likely to cause tension between Moldovans who hold Romanian nationality documents and those who do not?

3. Is it acceptable that, because of neglect by the outside world, a situation should arise in Moldova comparable to that in Belarus, where parliamentary democracy and the concomitant freedom of association and assembly are no longer functioning?

4. Is it acceptable that Moldova should degenerate into an island of poverty, creating a breeding ground for internal ethnic conflicts between the Romanian-speaking majority and the Slav minority, or for externally directed terrorist adventurism comparable to that which arose in Afghanistan under the Taliban?

5. What will the Commission do to help put an end to discrimination against Moldova as soon as possible, bearing in mind that in future it will border directly on the EU?

Source: De Volkskrant, 31 December 2001 and 25 February 2002.

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-0684/02 and E-0685/02

given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

The Commission is very concerned about the level of poverty in Moldova. The country is indeed among the poorest in Europe and poverty can aggravate ethnic conflicts and other security threats like terrorism. Moldova urgently needs to come to an agreement with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would open the way to further financial assistance. Her economic problems are also partly related to the unresolved relations with the Transdniestria province where most of the industrial activity is located.

EU-Moldova relationships are governed by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which entered into force in 1998. The PCA provides for regular political dialogue, trade liberalisation and wide ranging cooperation, based on respect of democratic principles and human rights. The importance which the Union attaches to Moldova has also been reflected in the decision of the Gothenburg European Council (15/16 June 2001) to invite the country together with Ukraine to the next European Conference.

Community assistance has amounted to EUR 120 million of technical assistance and EUR 87 million of macro-financial assistance over the last ten years. The European Humanitarian Office (ECHO) had provided some EUR 5,5 million in order to cushion the adverse humanitarian impact of the 1998 Russian financial crisis. In accordance with its core mandate (emergency relief in the immediate aftermath of natural or man made disasters) ECHO has phased out its activities in Moldova in 2001. In March 2001, the Commission started the Food Security Programme (EUR 5,5 million for the 2002 budgetary year).

Nothing in the Union relations with Russia or Ukraine obliges the Union not to concern itself with developments in Moldova. On the contrary, the situation in Moldova is a regular topic in the EU's political dialogue with Russia and Ukraine, with a view to improving common understanding on the root causes of the country's problems, and in order to find solutions in the Transdniestria in particular where the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also has a key role to play.

Concerning possible EU membership for Moldova, the Commission acts strictly in accordance with the basic criteria for Union accession as laid down by the European Council of Copenhagen in 1993 as well as the decision of the Luxembourg European Council in 1997 as regards the countries which participate in the current accession process. Economic or cultural links with present Member States have no bearing in the situation.

Whether or not an individual possesses the nationality of a Member State, or the right to obtain it, is a matter for the national law of the Member State concerned. After accession, it would still be within the competence of Romania to grant nationality to residents of Moldova. People with double Moldovan/Romanian nationality would have visa-free access to Romania or any other Member State. The Commission does not have any basis for estimating the migration flows that may result from such developments.

As a general rule, upon accession to the Union, Romania will have to introduce a visa requirement for nationals of those third countries listed in Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 (1), as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2414/2001 of 7 December 2001 (2). Possible exceptions from the general visa requirement would be subject to the relevant provisions of these regulations.

The Commission hopes that Moldova will be able to avoid political developments similar to those in Belarus, and is ready to do its part, together with the international community, to try to ensure this.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement, OJ L 81, 21.3.2001.

(2) OJ L 327, 12.12.2001.