Toespraak Olli Rehn, EU-Commissaris voor Uitbreiding over de situatie in Moldavië (en)
EU Commissioner for Enlargement
The situation in the Republic of Moldova
Plenary Debate, European Parliament
Strasbourg, 23 April 2009
President,
Honourable Members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The situation in the Republic of Moldova is of great concern. We are following developments closely and seeking ways to promote dialogue and reconciliation between political forces in the country
As regards the conduct of the elections themselves, the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy welcomed the preliminary assessment by the OSCE-led international election observation mission. The mission concluded that the elections had taken place overall in “pluralistic environment”, that a “distinct political choice” had been on offer to the voters and that a number of international standards for democratic elections had been met. However, significant shortcomings had been identified, which are of serious concern and were voiced by the Commission already well before the elections : undue administrative interference, insufficient respect for freedom of expression and access of all parties to media and an overall lack of public confidence in the process, need to be addressed as a matter of urgency – all the more so since the events of April 7.
Much more worrying are the reports of wide-spread human rights violations in the wake of the demonstrations after Election Day. After the turmoil that followed the demonstrations of 7 April, the Commission strongly condemned the excessive use of force and called on all those concerned to stop the use of inflammatory rhetoric and violence.
We are continuing to give this matter close attention. Respect for human rights remains a key condition for the further development of our relationship with Moldova. It is crucial that allegations of serious human rights violations by the security forces are investigated thoroughly and swiftly. Where allegations are substantiated, the authorities must act to ensure that those responsible for such abuses and brought to justice.
President Voronin’s agreement to a visit from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammerberg, as well as cooperation with the EUSR on these issues is welcome. Similarly Moldovan interest in the possibility of the dispatch of an EU fact-finding mission is positive. While these missions cannot substitute for the responsibility of the state to investigate and prosecute human rights violations, they should help to shed light on the latest elections and their aftermath. They should also go some way towards facilitating political dialogue in order to restore public confidence.
Today the situation in Moldova is very fragile. Moldova has consistently expressed its desire to deepen its relationship with the European Union. The current crisis is a test of its resolve in this regard.
We welcome the fact that Romania has refrained from taking reciprocal steps following the re-introduction of visa requirements for Romanian citizens and the declaration of its ambassador "persona non grata". We should encourage all partners to proceed with the greatest caution, and to keep always in mind the overriding aim of stabilizing this country.
The current situation is of grave concern but we should not lose our sense of the wider picture. The key to future stability and prosperity for Moldova is in the deepening of its relationship with the European Union. And, on the eve of the launch of the Eastern Partnership, we need to demonstrate that we are ready to assist Moldova in overcoming the current difficulties in particular by defusing tensions, promoting dialogue and strengthening links between us.
Honourable Members,
The Republic of Moldova is our neighbour. We have been working closely and in a relationship of trust with the citizens of Moldova over the last fifteen years. We are fully aware of Moldova’s European aspirations. It is critical that we stay engaged with the Moldovan people today and that together we work not only to overcome the challenges that have arisen in the election period but also those which are emerging as a result of the global financial and economic downturn.We care for Moldova and its citizens
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