Schuebel: Our task is to bring Moldova to the doorstep of the EU
March 2010
The Interview to the Infotag News Agency by the head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, Dirk Schuebel.
I.: Mr. Schuebel, have the duties of the EU delegation to Moldova changed since our country started the association membership talks with the EU on January 12th?
D.S.: First of all, the duties of the EU delegation have changed after the entering into force of the Lisbon Treaty on December 1st, 2009. Starting January 1st, 2010, the EU delegation to Moldova is one of more than 55 delegations worldwide that assume the role of the permanent EU presidency locally. With all this, of course, our task of coordination has considerably increased. After the start of the negotiations on a new association agreement, the tasks of the delegation have further increased because the reporting needs with a view to i.a. support the negotiations on the EU-MD Association Agreement became greater. This means that we are even more than before due to report on time and in detail about new developments in all sectors of the Moldovan society.
I.: But do you already see any new developments in Moldova?
D.S.: I arrived here only in November 2009, so it is quite difficult for me to compare. But I feel that a good fresh wind is blowing into Moldova and, of course, we do everything to support your European ambitions. We are trying to help you as much as we can to bring Moldova as close as possible to the EU.
I.: Have the powers of the EU delegation, the number of its members, and its budget increased; or will they increase given the fact that Moldova is seeking to sign a new agreement providing for closer cooperation with the EU?
D.S.: It is true that our staff situation unfortunately is not sufficient at this moment. We would definitely need a number of additional staff. We have already requested headquarters to look into this issue and we hope that the answer will be positive but the world financial crisis has also had its influence on the personnel situation of the EU delegations all over the world.
I.: You had worked in a similar delegation in Ukraine, which is also holding association talks with the EU. What are the similarities and differences between Moldova and Ukraine at this stage of the negotiations with the EU?
D.S.: First of all, there are many similarities in rules and habits because both countries stem from the former Soviet Union. On the other hand, Ukraine is a much bigger country than Moldova. But being a small country is not necessarily a disadvantage. In a small country you can develop more things in the direction that you want to in a faster way than for instance in a country of 46 million inhabitants like Ukraine. So far, both countries have had a very clear pro-European agenda, the objective of both countries is final membership in the EU and my task here in Moldova and the task of my colleagues in Ukraine is to help as much as we can to bring Chisinau and Kiev to the doorsteps of the EU.
I.: What is the key obstacle on Moldova's path towards the EU: the lack of European standards, or the frozen conflict with the breakaway Transnistrian region?
D.S.: To move forward towards the EU largely lies in Moldova's hands alone. We can only help the country to prepare properly. And that is what we are doing, including through our financial support. But the main task, of course, has to be solved by Moldova itself. This includes the conflict with Transnistria, where we also give a helping hand. The EU is part of the 5+2 format of the talks and we very much hope that we can achieve a breakthrough in not too far a future so that this internal problem would be resolved.
I.: In fact, Moldova has been pursuing integration in two directions: integration into the EU, but prior to this – integration of Transnistria into Moldova. How realistic are these goals, and can they be separated?
D.S.: For all the time of its existence, every Moldovan government has considered Transnistria as part of Moldova. The EU shares this view and follows the one-country policy in this respect. We offer the same advantages, such as the autonomous trade preferences, to Transnistrian operators as well. That is our policy. As I said before, we are trying to help solving the Transnistrian problem also by helping to improve the lives of Transnistrian people. We are doing this through confidence building measures which are or will be successfully implemented in the near future.
I.: In your opinion, do Moldovan politicians and ordinary citizens really understand what problems need to be solved in order to be able to say one day: "Yes, we are ready for integration"?
D.S.: Again I can only speak about a few months of experience with the current government. I have the feeling that they more and more understand what is at stake for Moldova and in which direction this country should go. I also see that more and more efforts are being undertaken by Moldovan politicians to achieve this goal and of course, only words would not be enough. We see some actions but they need to be sustained. The current government, as any other government, will be measured by its actions, by what it does for its people and for the process of integration in European structures. We stand by ready to help and support as much as we can this government or any other government which would have a European path.
I.: The EU is not set to extend in the near future. To what extent does that hinder Moldova's implementation of European standards?
D.S.: The most important thing is to tell people that everything what you are doing you are doing it first of all for yourself, to improve your lives. We think that our standards are good ones, they have improved the lives of many, many millions of people in the EU and I have not heard any country complaining about being an EU member, including any of the new members. So, I think this task is first of all for yourself, to advance in reforms. And even if at this moment in time the EU may not be ready to extend further, the country should simple work, go on with reforms and be ready in case the political situation changes and there will be unanimity among the EU member states to extend the EU further.
Infotag's note: The EU delegation to Moldova was opened in October 2005. Dirk Schuebel is the second head of the delegation after Cesare de Montis. Over the last few years, the EU delegation provided an average support at the bilateral level of about 60 million euros per year. Moldova is likely to receive, in the next few years, 41 million euros in the frame of the EU's Comprehensive Institution-Building Programme. Among the most successful projects implemented by the EU in Moldova there are the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM); the budgetary support programmes on social, health and water and water sanitation issues.
(Read the full text of the interview with Dirk Schuebel in the March issue of the B&F-Profit magazine).
Infotag
I.: Mr. Schuebel, have the duties of the EU delegation to Moldova changed since our country started the association membership talks with the EU on January 12th?
D.S.: First of all, the duties of the EU delegation have changed after the entering into force of the Lisbon Treaty on December 1st, 2009. Starting January 1st, 2010, the EU delegation to Moldova is one of more than 55 delegations worldwide that assume the role of the permanent EU presidency locally. With all this, of course, our task of coordination has considerably increased. After the start of the negotiations on a new association agreement, the tasks of the delegation have further increased because the reporting needs with a view to i.a. support the negotiations on the EU-MD Association Agreement became greater. This means that we are even more than before due to report on time and in detail about new developments in all sectors of the Moldovan society.
I.: But do you already see any new developments in Moldova?
D.S.: I arrived here only in November 2009, so it is quite difficult for me to compare. But I feel that a good fresh wind is blowing into Moldova and, of course, we do everything to support your European ambitions. We are trying to help you as much as we can to bring Moldova as close as possible to the EU.
I.: Have the powers of the EU delegation, the number of its members, and its budget increased; or will they increase given the fact that Moldova is seeking to sign a new agreement providing for closer cooperation with the EU?
D.S.: It is true that our staff situation unfortunately is not sufficient at this moment. We would definitely need a number of additional staff. We have already requested headquarters to look into this issue and we hope that the answer will be positive but the world financial crisis has also had its influence on the personnel situation of the EU delegations all over the world.
I.: You had worked in a similar delegation in Ukraine, which is also holding association talks with the EU. What are the similarities and differences between Moldova and Ukraine at this stage of the negotiations with the EU?
D.S.: First of all, there are many similarities in rules and habits because both countries stem from the former Soviet Union. On the other hand, Ukraine is a much bigger country than Moldova. But being a small country is not necessarily a disadvantage. In a small country you can develop more things in the direction that you want to in a faster way than for instance in a country of 46 million inhabitants like Ukraine. So far, both countries have had a very clear pro-European agenda, the objective of both countries is final membership in the EU and my task here in Moldova and the task of my colleagues in Ukraine is to help as much as we can to bring Chisinau and Kiev to the doorsteps of the EU.
I.: What is the key obstacle on Moldova's path towards the EU: the lack of European standards, or the frozen conflict with the breakaway Transnistrian region?
D.S.: To move forward towards the EU largely lies in Moldova's hands alone. We can only help the country to prepare properly. And that is what we are doing, including through our financial support. But the main task, of course, has to be solved by Moldova itself. This includes the conflict with Transnistria, where we also give a helping hand. The EU is part of the 5+2 format of the talks and we very much hope that we can achieve a breakthrough in not too far a future so that this internal problem would be resolved.
I.: In fact, Moldova has been pursuing integration in two directions: integration into the EU, but prior to this – integration of Transnistria into Moldova. How realistic are these goals, and can they be separated?
D.S.: For all the time of its existence, every Moldovan government has considered Transnistria as part of Moldova. The EU shares this view and follows the one-country policy in this respect. We offer the same advantages, such as the autonomous trade preferences, to Transnistrian operators as well. That is our policy. As I said before, we are trying to help solving the Transnistrian problem also by helping to improve the lives of Transnistrian people. We are doing this through confidence building measures which are or will be successfully implemented in the near future.
I.: In your opinion, do Moldovan politicians and ordinary citizens really understand what problems need to be solved in order to be able to say one day: "Yes, we are ready for integration"?
D.S.: Again I can only speak about a few months of experience with the current government. I have the feeling that they more and more understand what is at stake for Moldova and in which direction this country should go. I also see that more and more efforts are being undertaken by Moldovan politicians to achieve this goal and of course, only words would not be enough. We see some actions but they need to be sustained. The current government, as any other government, will be measured by its actions, by what it does for its people and for the process of integration in European structures. We stand by ready to help and support as much as we can this government or any other government which would have a European path.
I.: The EU is not set to extend in the near future. To what extent does that hinder Moldova's implementation of European standards?
D.S.: The most important thing is to tell people that everything what you are doing you are doing it first of all for yourself, to improve your lives. We think that our standards are good ones, they have improved the lives of many, many millions of people in the EU and I have not heard any country complaining about being an EU member, including any of the new members. So, I think this task is first of all for yourself, to advance in reforms. And even if at this moment in time the EU may not be ready to extend further, the country should simple work, go on with reforms and be ready in case the political situation changes and there will be unanimity among the EU member states to extend the EU further.
Infotag's note: The EU delegation to Moldova was opened in October 2005. Dirk Schuebel is the second head of the delegation after Cesare de Montis. Over the last few years, the EU delegation provided an average support at the bilateral level of about 60 million euros per year. Moldova is likely to receive, in the next few years, 41 million euros in the frame of the EU's Comprehensive Institution-Building Programme. Among the most successful projects implemented by the EU in Moldova there are the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM); the budgetary support programmes on social, health and water and water sanitation issues.
(Read the full text of the interview with Dirk Schuebel in the March issue of the B&F-Profit magazine).
Infotag
