BETA


2019/2201(INI) Annual implementing report on the EU association agreement with Moldova

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET TUDORACHE Dragoş (icon: Renew Renew) HALICKI Andrzej (icon: EPP EPP), OLEKAS Juozas (icon: S&D S&D), VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL Viola (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), MARIANI Thierry (icon: ID ID), FOTYGA Anna (icon: ECR ECR), MAUREL Emmanuel (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion INTA GREGOROVÁ Markéta (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE) Helmut SCHOLZ (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), Maximilian KRAH (icon: ID ID), Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI (icon: ECR ECR)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2020/10/20
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2020/10/20
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

Parliament adopted by 554 votes to 70, with 65 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova.

With the association agreement and the deep and comprehensive free trade area, the EU and Moldova has committed to promoting political association and achieving economic integration. It has committed itself to incorporating the EU acquis into its own laws and practices in a wide range of areas.

To support these efforts, the Union is committed to providing substantial financial and budgetary assistance to Moldova, provided that fundamental European values and principles, such as the rule of law, human rights and democratic rights, are respected.

Common values and general principles

Members reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Moldova's European path through political association, economic integration and related reforms. However, they called for progress to be made, in particular by focusing on the independence of public institutions and their resilience against the influence of oligarchs, the fight against corruption, the judiciary, strengthening the rule of law and improving citizens' living conditions.

Parliament welcomed the release of the second instalment of the Union's macro-financial assistance programme for 2017-2020. It considered that this disbursement should be followed by efforts in areas related to the strengthening of the anti-money laundering framework and the independence of the national bank.

Fair elections

Members called on the Moldovan authorities to ensure free and fair presidential elections scheduled on 1 November 2020. The authorities should also:

- refrain from altering rules and regulations for political gain, which will always end in political unrest and instability affecting the commitment for structural reforms;

- strengthen democratic mechanisms, including a multi-party parliamentary system, and to ensure free, independent and pluralistic media;

- strengthen resilience against disinformation and information manipulation by domestic and foreign actors, online and offline;

Reforms and institutional framework

While welcoming the reforms that led to the introduction of a visa-free regime with the Union, Members are concerned about the rise of the number of Moldovan nationals found to be illegally staying in the Schengen+ area (47% rise) and about the rise in asylum applications (48% rise). They urged Moldovan authorities to further implement the commitments made in the context of the liberalised visa regime for the Schengen area in the area of effective migration management and to ensure asylum rights for third-country applicants in the Republic of Moldova.

Rule of law and good governance

Concerned by the low level of trust in the integrity and effectiveness of the judiciary and by the susceptibility of the judicial branch to political pressure which hampers its independence, Members called on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to ensure transparency in the judicial appointment processes. They urged the Moldovan authorities to strengthen the complete independence of the Constitutional Court and to ensure that it is not subject to any form of political interference. They also called for increased efforts to fight organised crime and dismantle criminal organisations.

Human rights and fundamental freedoms

The resolution acknowledged the improvement of the legislation on the protection of human rights, notably as a result of the new 2018-2022 Human Rights Action Plan. Members called on the Moldovan authorities to significantly increase their efforts in this area, in particular to protect vulnerable groups, such as women and children abused by human traffickers, linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, Roma and LGBT+ people, and to recognise respect for human rights as an essential condition for democratic societies.

Members expressed deep concern at the situation of Moldovans stranded in EU Member States due to the COVID-19 crisis without social protection.

Cooperation in the field of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP)

Parliament welcomed Moldova's participation in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations on cyber security. It recognised the importance of the European Union's Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) in harmonising border management and customs regime to that of the Union, as well as finding a solution of the Transnistrian issue.

Institutional provisions

Lastly, the EU institutions and the Member States are, in close cooperation with the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, urged to better communicate the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and the EU assistance to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The Commission should strengthen the Delegation of the European Union to the

Republic of Moldova.

Documents
2020/10/20
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2020/10/19
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2020/09/28
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew Europe, RO) on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova.

The report stressed that Moldova remains an unpredictable state. Its citizens look to the European Union, but its political class is unable to provide political stability and reliable leadership.

EU’s commitment

Since the establishment of the Eastern Partnership and until the end of 2018, Moldova has received from Brussels more than EUR 1 billion in jointly agreed projects.

Members reaffirmed the Union's commitment to support Moldova’s European path through political association, economic integration and the respective reforms. The Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA) remains of primary importance for the development Moldova, especially in current exceptional times. However, further progress must be achieved in its implementation, to deliver its full potential and benefits, particularly by focusing on the independence of State institutions, their resilience against the influence from oligarchs, fight against corruption, justice, the strengthening rule of law and on improving the living conditions of the citizens.

Fair elections

Members called on the Moldovan authorities to ensure free and fair presidential elections scheduled on 1 November 2020. The authorities should also:

- refrain from altering rules and regulations for political gain, which will always end in political unrest and instability affecting the commitment for structural reforms;

- strengthen democratic mechanisms, including a multi-party parliamentary system, and to ensure free, independent and pluralistic media;

- strengthen resilience against disinformation and information manipulation by domestic and foreign actors, online and offline;

Reforms and institutional framework

While welcoming the reforms that led to the introduction of a visa-free regime with the Union, Members are concerned about the rise of the number of Moldovan nationals found to be illegally staying in the Schengen+ area (47% rise) and about the rise in asylum applications (48% rise). They urged Moldovan authorities to further implement the commitments made in the context of the liberalised visa regime for the Schengen area in the area of effective migration management and to ensure asylum rights for third-country applicants in the Republic of Moldova.

Rule of law and good governance

Concerned by the low level of trust in the integrity and effectiveness of the judiciary and by the susceptibility of the judicial branch to political pressure which hampers its independence, Members called on the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to ensure transparency in the judicial appointment processes. They urged the Moldovan authorities to strengthen the complete independence of the Constitutional Court and to ensure that it is not subject to any form of political interference.

Human rights and fundamental freedoms

The committee acknowledged the improvement of the legislation on the protection of human rights, notably as a result of the new 2018-2022 Human Rights Action Plan. It called on the Moldovan authorities to significantly increase efforts in this area. They expressed deep concern at the situation of Moldovans stranded in EU Member States due to the COVID-19 crisis without social protection.

Institutional provisions

Lastly, the EU institutions and the Member States are, in close cooperation with the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, urged to better communicate the benefits of the AA/DCFTA and the EU assistance to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

Documents
2020/09/21
   EP - Vote in committee
2020/09/08
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2020/07/22
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2020/06/16
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2019/12/19
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2019/12/02
   EP - GREGOROVÁ Markéta (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2019/11/06
   EP - TUDORACHE Dragoş (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Votes

A9-0166/2020 - Dragoş Tudorache - Am 2 #

2020/10/20 Outcome: -: 589, +: 86, 0: 12
CY EL MT LV LU EE IE SI FI HR DK SK SE LT PT NL CZ BG AT BE HU FR RO ES PL DE IT
Total
6
20
5
8
6
7
12
8
13
12
13
14
19
11
21
27
20
16
19
21
21
78
32
58
51
94
75
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (2)

4

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: ID ID
73

Estonia ID

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

1

Austria ID

3
icon: NI NI
29

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

1

Germany NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
62

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
67

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
95

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
140

Cyprus S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Finland S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Belgium S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
182

Cyprus PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

4

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0166/2020 - Dragoş Tudorache - Am 3 #

2020/10/20 Outcome: -: 589, +: 87, 0: 11
CY EL MT LV LU EE IE SI FI HR DK SK SE LT PT NL CZ BG AT BE HU FR RO ES PL DE IT
Total
6
20
5
8
6
7
12
8
13
12
13
14
19
11
21
27
20
16
19
21
21
78
32
58
51
94
75
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (2)

4

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: ID ID
73

Estonia ID

Abstain (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

1

Austria ID

3
icon: NI NI
29

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

2

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

1

Germany NI

2
icon: ECR ECR
62

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
67

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
95

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
140

Cyprus S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Estonia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Finland S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Belgium S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
182

Cyprus PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

4

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0166/2020 - Dragoş Tudorache - Am 7 #

2020/10/20 Outcome: -: 547, +: 85, 0: 53
EE MT CY LU LV HR SI FI SK LT IT BE IE DK SE AT CZ BG EL NL PT HU PL RO FR ES DE
Total
7
5
6
6
8
12
8
13
14
11
75
21
12
13
19
19
20
16
18
27
21
21
51
32
78
58
94
icon: ID ID
73

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1
3

Czechia ID

For (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
62

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

2

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Abstain (1)

4

Romania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
27

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Greece NI

1

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

Against (1)

1

Germany NI

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

4

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

4
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
67

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

3
icon: Renew Renew
95

Estonia Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

2

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Sweden Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2
icon: S&D S&D
140

Estonia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Finland S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Lithuania S&D

2

Belgium S&D

3

Greece S&D

2
icon: PPE PPE
182

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0166/2020 - Dragoş Tudorache - Am 4S #

2020/10/20 Outcome: -: 589, +: 76, 0: 22
CY IE MT LU EL EE LV SI HR FI DK LT SK PT BG SE CZ BE AT HU FR NL RO ES DE PL IT
Total
6
12
5
6
20
7
8
8
12
13
13
11
14
21
16
19
20
21
19
21
78
27
32
58
94
51
75
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
29

Croatia NI

2

Slovakia NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Hungary NI

Against (1)

1

Netherlands NI

1

Germany NI

2
icon: ID ID
73

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
62

Greece ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2
3

Netherlands ECR

4

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
67

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
95

Ireland Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Slovakia Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Sweden Renew

3

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
140

Cyprus S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1

Greece S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

Against (2)

2

Finland S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Slovakia S&D

3

Belgium S&D

3
icon: PPE PPE
182

Cyprus PPE

2

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

A9-0166/2020 - Dragoş Tudorache - Am 10 #

2020/10/20 Outcome: -: 430, +: 237, 0: 19
MT PT IE ES LV LU HR CY SE LT DK AT EE SI NL EL FI BE SK BG HU DE CZ RO IT FR PL
Total
5
21
12
58
8
6
12
6
19
11
13
19
7
8
27
20
13
21
13
16
21
94
20
32
75
78
51
icon: S&D S&D
139

Latvia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Greece S&D

2

Finland S&D

Abstain (1)

2

Slovakia S&D

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
67

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
29

Croatia NI

2

Netherlands NI

1

Slovakia NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Hungary NI

1

Germany NI

Against (1)

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Portugal GUE/NGL

4

Ireland GUE/NGL

For (1)

4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
62

Latvia ECR

2

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1
3

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

4

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: ID ID
73

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Finland ID

2

Czechia ID

Abstain (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
95

Ireland Renew

2

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Sweden Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Slovakia Renew

2

Bulgaria Renew

3

Hungary Renew

2

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE PPE
182

Malta PPE

2

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

4

A9-0166/2020 - Dragoş Tudorache - § 17/1 #

2020/10/20 Outcome: +: 484, -: 165, 0: 37
DE FR IT PL CZ RO ES IE EL HU SE BG FI BE LT SK NL DK LV SI LU AT HR EE PT MT CY
Total
94
78
75
51
20
32
58
12
20
21
19
16
13
21
11
13
27
13
8
8
6
19
12
7
21
5
6
icon: PPE PPE
182

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2
2
icon: Renew Renew
95

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Hungary Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

2

Slovakia Renew

2