Romania external relations briefing: Renewed support for the Republic of Moldova in fighting Covid

ISSN: 2560-1601

                                                                                      Vol. 38, No. 4 (RO)

                                                                                               March 2021

                              Romania external relations briefing:
   Renewed support for the Republic of Moldova in fighting Covid
                                           Oana Cristina Popovici

                                                               1052 Budapest Petőfi Sándor utca 11.

                                                               +36 1 5858 690
Kiadó: Kína-KKE Intézet Nonprofit Kft.
                                                               office@china-cee.eu
Szerkesztésért felelős személy: Chen Xin
Kiadásért felelős személy: Huang Ping                          china-cee.eu

2017/01

Renewed support for the Republic of Moldova in fighting Covid

     Romania continues to support the Republic of Moldova in the fight Coronavirus.
Following the aid of EUR 3.5 million donated in May 2020, Romania shipped in February this
year medical equipment worth EUR 2.3 million and a first batch of 21,600 vaccines, out of a
total of 200,000 which were promised once with the installation of the pro-European President
Maia Sandu. Both measures of support are provided under the consistent package announced
by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in December 2020. The aid became more consistent
in the last period, and Romania intends to help with structural reforms as long as Moldova’s
pro-European orientation prevails.

     Romania has donated to the Republic of Moldova medical equipment, such as masks,
protective personal equipment and gloves of almost EUR 2.3 million in February 2021 and
21,600 doses of vaccine for Covid-19 prevention. Once with the election of the pro-European
President Maia Sandu in December 2020, Romania reiterated its objective to provide strong
support towards the Republic of Moldova, showing that it intends to be one of its most
important and honest partners. The two countries have a special relationship, grounded on the
language, history and culture community which both share and the bilateral strategic
partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova. However, Romania
considers that the only way to prosperity and development for the Republic of Moldova is to
continue the European path and fully implement the reforms undertaken by the Association
Agreement. In these condition, Romania already declared that it will always support this path,
both bilaterally and within the European Union (EU).

     In April 2020, the two countries celebrated 10 years since the conclusion of the Strategic
Partnership for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. During these years,
Romania and the EU liberalized the visas for Moldovan citizens, Romania has bilaterally
granted a non-reimbursable aid of EUR 100 million and a reimbursable one of EUR 150 million,
over 1,100 kindergartens were renovated, a gas pipeline was built, the Agreement between the
two countries’ Governments on mutual assistance for cross-border interventions in case of
medical emergencies was implemented, scholarships were agreed and several projects with a
direct impact on citizens were carried out. Romania has become in recent years the main

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economic partner of the Republic of Moldova, with a bilateral balance of almost EUR 2 billion.
Romania also made an attempt to support Moldova in reducing the dependency on the Russian
gas, by managing to build the Iasi - Ungheni - Chisinau gas pipeline, with a cost of almost EUR
150 million. Unfortunately, although functional, no gas is carried so far due to lack of contracts.

      The recent free humanitarian aid, granted through the European Civil Protection
Mechanism, is in line with Romania’s constant action for the direct benefit of the citizens of
the Republic of Moldova in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar support was
provided in April 2020, when Romania showed its help by providing the needed drugs. On that
occasion, Romania brought a team of 52 people, including 41 doctors and volunteer nurses, to
help the healthcare personnel in the Republic of Moldova fight the COVID-19 pandemic,
followed by the transfer of medical equipment, worth EUR 3.5 million, in May. The Republic
of Moldova was severely affected by the pandemic, being on the 28th place in the world
regarding the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 per million citizens and on the 22nd place
at European level, according to the data provided by the Moldavian Government in March 2021.

      This measures are showing the steps Romania has taken for the implementation of the
consistent support package publicly presented by the President Klaus Iohannis, on the occasion
of his official visit to Chisinau, on December 29, 2020. Romania showed strong support for the
elected pro-European President of the Republic, highlighting that it is ready to provide all the
assistance needed for the successful implementation of her reform program and for the
management of the multiple crises that the Republic of Moldova is facing. In this respect,
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced a new support package from Romania for the
citizens of the Republic of Moldova. This includes, among others, to continue to provide
assistance for the consolidation of the civil society and the independence of the mass media in
the Republic of Moldova, by making, in 2021, a new financial contribution, at least equivalent
to the one made in November 2020, respectively of EUR 250,000 euros or to initiate an in-
depth cooperation on justice and the fight against corruption. Several other projects enhancing
interconnection are intended, such as construction and renovation of bridges across the Prut
river, reduction of roaming charges, agreements in the education field, research and mutual
recognition of diplomas.

      Another component of the Romanian support offer is represented by the technical and
financial assistance program based on a non-reimbursable financial aid. Back in November
2020, Romania has extended the non-reimbursable financial assistance agreement worth EUR
100 million for the Republic of Moldova, which was firstly signed in 2010. The actual Protocol
6 expands the areas in which this grant can be provided, encompassing health infrastructure,

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education and culture, environment, water and sanitation. The development of structures and
procedures in these areas to European standards are envisaged. Several conditionality to ensure
that the financial support will generate sustainable benefits for citizens, support the
advancement of European reforms and respect for the principles of democracy and the rule of
law in the Republic of Moldova were also introduced. These measures were also discussed in
the context of the visit to the Republic of Moldova in February, when several official meetings
with Republic of Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, and the interim Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Aureliu Ciocoi, were carried out. The
Romanian Minister of External Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, insisted on the importance of
continuing the European path of the Republic of Moldova and of democratic reforms, as
Romania’s support is conditioned on carrying out the reforms necessary to advance the
European agenda. On the same occasion, the stage of preparations for the conclusion of Protocol
6 to the 2010 Bilateral Agreement on the grant of EUR 100 million was discussed. There are
funds worth EUR 68 million still remaining to be used. The Protocol must be concluded by
March in order to be able to extend the validity and, therefore, the application of the Agreement.
However, the recent political crisis from the Republic of Moldova might impede such a quick
resolution from the Moldavian side.

      In addition to all this, Romania will continue to deliver support to the Republic of
Moldova on the other dimensions announced by the President of Romania in December. Earlier
in February, a Governmental Decision stated on the transfer of 6,000 tons of diesel fuel in
support of farmers in the Republic of Moldova affected by drought. Romania also promised a
donation of 200,000 vaccines to Moldova back in December, purchased for the own needs,
through centralized EU procedures. A first batch of 21,600 AstraZeneca vaccine was shipped
to the neighbouring country at the end of February, which will be used for the vaccination of
the medical workers. Under normal procedure, Moldova beneficiates by such aid under the
global COVAX scheme for poorer countries, which is meant to be implemented starting with
March.

      Similar support that might be provided was reiterated recently, in a meeting between
Romanian officials and the representatives of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine,
all countries members of the Eastern Partnership which aims to strengthen political association
and economic integration with the EU. Romania insisted again on supporting the reform
processes in the partner countries, as well as the diversification of cooperation formats,
including through the development of collaboration on the security dimension. In this context,
it emphasized that boosting structural reforms in the three partner countries and making real

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progress on this dimension is the most effective way to achieve a rapprochement with the
common European area of values. The meeting was a good opportunity to exchange views on
the post-2020 Eastern Partnership objectives, which will be adopted at the next Partnership
Summit. The support measures from the EU in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were
underlined, highlighting the substantial contribution of Romania on this level, both in the form
of humanitarian assistance and through the initiative of 12 EU Member States on the
development of a European mechanism for the access of Eastern Partnership countries to the
anti-COVID vaccine. During the meeting, the challenges raised by the hybrid threats in the
Eastern Neighbourhood were also addressed, emphasizing the importance of continuing actions
to strengthen the resilience of Eastern Partnership states.

      During the pandemic and until the delivery of vaccine donations, Romania has
demonstrated consistency in its solidarity towards the Republic of Moldova and progress on the
bilateral relations is guaranteed through the support package announced by President Iohannis.
Further enhancement of the collaboration of the two countries depends on the political direction
of the Republic of Moldova. Romania manifested strong intention for helping with structural
reforms as long as the pro-European orientation prevails.

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