Kõne: Wilton Park Conference

Friday, 17.10.2008, 12:32 / SEISUKOHAD / RSS

Remarks by Marianne Mikko,
Member of the European Parliament,
at the Wilton Park Conference,
17 October 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. I am very glad that we are having a conference on Moldova in such a respected forum as Wilton Park. The timing of the conference is appropriate as Moldova’s situation is quite fragile. I hope that we will share our ideas, concerns and solutions openly. It is a wonderful opportunity to think creatively and perhaps even radically about the future of Moldova.

Moldova is the immediate neighbour of the EU. The EU should pursue stability and prosperity at its borders. We can bring stability to our bordering countries such as Moldova by setting a clear path for integration with Europe. We have to be conscious that if we do not export stability we will import instability.

The European Union has so far or at least until the war in Georgia been rather indolent when it comes to Moldova. Especially the old member states have been somewhat reluctant to deal with our eastern neighbours apart from Russia. Now we have to take action.

The topic of our debate is “Relations with the European Union. What next? How next?” For me it is rather clear what has to be next – the relations should be taken to a new level. They should be a lot tighter and have a concrete substance. Moldova should have a clear European perspective.

The EU is ready to have deeper relationship and to negotiate a new agreement with Moldova. At least it says so in the council conclusions, adopted by the foreign ministers of the EU at the beginning of this week.

These conclusions even say that the new agreement should be “ambitious”. The ministers cautiously promise that the new agreement will “go beyond the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement”. But what does that mean? What kind of an agreement this will be?

I firmly believe that Moldova deserves no more and no less than an Association Agreement. Firstly, it will facilitate the deepening of our relations in all areas. Strengthen political involvement and economic integration between Moldova and the European Union. It will give us a solid basis for further concurrence with equivalent rights and obligations.

Secondly, a clear European perspective will give Moldova leverage in its relations with Russia and in negotiations over Transnistria. Moldova should know where it stands.

Thirdly, the EU does not have an up to date trade regime with eastern partners including Moldova. Moldovan economy needs more access to the European market. That would give an impetus to Moldova to redirect its economy towards the west. And minimize the dependence on the markets in the east. That helps Moldova to tackle the desperate poverty and we should encourage that as much as possible.

Another issue I would like to touch upon is visa freedom with Moldova. It is very good that visa facilitation agreement has stepped into force. This has eliminated the unfair situation where citizens of neighbouring countries could obtain visas more easily.

But we have to go further, even if it seems too radical at the first instance. Visa freedom for Moldova in the near future rather than in a long term perspective will be the calm but firm response to Russia’s unstinting distribution of citizenship on both shores of Nistru. This will also diminish the glitter of Romanian citizenship. Not to mention that the citizens of Moldova have visa free travel with all the CIS countries.

Moldova is willing to integrate into the European Union and has committed to it. Moldovan people want to see Moldova as a true part of Europe. We should not disappoint them. If we ignore Moldova’s aspirations and do not give a real positive signal we might as well cause such chagrin that Moldova will turn away from Europe. Who will win from that?

Now coming to the second question – How next? How to proceed? We should carefully consider the timing of the beginning of negotiations. Should the negotiations begin already this year? Or after the parliamentary elections due to take place next year? How to avoid the situation where the European integration will become the centre of political tussle in the pre-election period? How to find the right balance between the commitments and conditions for both sides? These are the questions that need answering.

Before I leave the floor I would like to remind Moldova that this is the avenue with two lanes. Moldova has to prove its dedication and move ahead with reforms. Or as the Queen said in the classic novel of Lewis Carrol Through the Looking Glass: “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”

Thank you!