The ȘOR Party, in the person of the fugitive MP Ilan ȘOR, and the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), have recently launched attacks on the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Peter MICHALKO, in order to divert the attention from their undemocratic and unconstitutional maneuvers to retain the power after the loss of the presidential elections by Igor DODON.

The two parties blame the European diplomat for the various opinions he had and allege a so-called violation of the country’s “sovereignty”. In reality, it is a diversion: both the  ȘOR party and PSRM seem rather concerned with securing a sovereign power in order to control state institutions, despite the fact that they have lost the support of the electorate.

Sovereignty is not affected by the EU Ambassador, who states that there have been deviations from the reform commitments officially assumed by the Republic of Moldova in the Association Agreement with the European Union, but by those who promote such attacks. Even the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova established the unconstitutionality of one of the draft laws adopted in December 2020, by a majority consisting of PSRM, the Șor Party and the “for Moldova” group, which violated legal procedures and decision-making transparency.

Instead, “sovereignty” is the preferred concern of power-hungry politicians, who do not want their abuses to be sanctioned or criticized by anyone, either from the inside or the outside of the country, and who, thus, want to spread fear and distrust among citizens.

Ambassador Peter MICHALKO spoke from the position of the partnership and collaboration relationship between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. In addition to the Association Agreement with the EU, signed by the Republic of Moldova in 2014, which includes a series of obligations on both sides, the EU is in a position of partnership in many other respects:

• Since 2009, the EU is the largest donor and development partner of the Republic of Moldova, contributing through Official External Assistance with about 1.12 billion euros, resources that went directly to the state budget;
• In addition, technical assistance projects have been implemented for central and local public authorities, civil society, and businesses. These investments resulted in 700 kilometers of roads, modern trolleybuses for Chisinau and Balti, access to drinking water for 16,000 people; thousands of jobs;
• The EU is the main trading partner of the Republic of Moldova, with 67% of exports in 2020.

Cooperation with the EU and respect for European standards and values actually strengthens the sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova and its economic, social and democratic development.

Under these conditions, the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum expresses its solidarity with the EU Ambassador Peter MICHALKO and demands the political parties to refrain from turning European diplomats into political targets, focusing instead on finding democratic solutions to the political crisis, in accordance with the interests of the citizens.

The public statement in English is available HERE.

The public statement in Romanian is available HERE.

Signatories:

1. AEGEE-Chișinău
2. Alliance for Energy Efficiency and Renewables
3. Alliance of Active NGOs for Social Protection of Child and Family
4. Alliance of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities
5. Alliance of Small Enterprises from Moldova
6. Amnesty International Moldova
7. AO ”Institutum Virtutes Civilis”
8. Association for Efficient and Responsible Governance
9. Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT
10. Association for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities from Moldova
11. Association for Waste Recovery E-circular
12. Association of Environmental and Ecological Tourism Journalists
13. Association of Independent Press
14. Association of Women for Environmental Protection and Durable Development
15. Association ”Youth for the Right to Live” (Romanian initials „TDV”)
16. Automobil Club Moldova
17. Ave Copiii
18. BIOS
19. BIOTICA
20. Business Consulting Institute
21. Business Professional Women
22. Caroma-Nord
23. CASMED
24. Centre for Development and Management
25. Centre for Independent Journalism
26. Centre for Policies and Reforms
27. Centre of Development in Education
28. Centre of Economic Development and Public Affairs
29. Centre of Innovation and Policies from Moldova
30. Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova
31. Cross-Border Cooperation and European Integration Agency
32. Cutezătorul
33. East-European Foundation
34. Eco-Contact
35. Eco-Răzeni
36. Eco-Sor
37. Ecological Consulting Centre Cahul
38. Ecological Movement of Moldova
39. ECOTOX
40. ESGA Moldova
41. European Centre for Social Initiatives “Stalker”
42. European Institute for Political Studies
43. Federation of Trade Unions in Construction and Construction Materials Industry SINDICONS
44. Foreign Policy Association
45. Foundation for Advancement of Moldova
46. Foundation for Education and Advancement of Moldova
47. GREEN-School
48. Hai Moldova
49. IM Swedish Development Partner
50. Independent Analytic Centre Expert-Grup
51. INFONET
52. Informational and Support Centre for Young Economists “CERTITUDINE”
53. Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul”
54. Institute for European Policies and Reforms
55. Institute for Human Rights
56. Institute for Urban Development
57. Institute of Public Policies
58. INTECO
59. Interaction NGO
60. International Association of River Keepers „Eco-Tiras”
61. International Centre for Women Rights Protection and Promotion “La Strada”
62. INVENTO
63. Keystone International Human Services Moldova
64. Labour Institute
65. Legal Resources Centre from Moldova
66. Local Democracy Agency Moldova
67. MilleniuM” Training and Development Institute
68. Moms in Action
69. National Association of European Trainers from Moldova
70. National Centre of Assistance and Information for Moldovan NGOs “CONTACT”
71. National Environment Centre
72. National LEADER Network in Moldova
73. National Roma Centre
74. National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova
75. National Trade Union Confederation „SĂNĂTATEA” din RM
76. National Youth Council of Moldova
77. Pro Regional Cooperation”
78. Pro-Europa” Centre from Comrat
79. Promo-LEX
80. Regional Centre for Durable Development from Ungheni
81. Regional Centre of Environmental Studies ECOS
82. Regional Centre „Contact” Bălți
83. Regional Environment Centre from Moldova
84. Republican Centre for Children and Youth Gutta-Club
85. Small Business Association
86. Soros-Moldova Foundation
87. Terra-1530
88. The National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova
89. Transparency International Moldova
90. Union of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities from Moldova
91. VESTA” Gagauzia Regional Association
92. md Community
93. Woman and Child- Protection and Support”
94. Youth for Future”
95. Ștefan-Vodă Territorial Organisation of the Ecological Movement of Moldova
96. Медиа Центр Приднестровья