INDIVIDUAL PARTNERSHIP
ACTION PLAN (IPAP)
REPUBLIC
OF MOLDOVA - NATO
PART
I: KEY POLICY AND REFORM
OBJECTIVES
OF
THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
CHAPTER
1: POLITICAL AND SECURITY - RELATED ISSUES
1.1
Deepen
Cooperation with European and Euro-Atlantic structures
and institutions
The
main strategic objectives of the Republic of Moldova
are: integration into the EU and intensification of
dialog and deepening the relationship with Euro-Atlantic
structures.
Keeping in mind Moldova’s status as a neutral
country, the Republic of Moldova does not pursue the
objective of NATO membership through the implementation
of IPAP, but rather hopes to use IPAP to speed up the
reform process of the national security and defense
sectors. In this respect, the Republic of Moldova will
establish the necessary legal and political basis for
implementing IPAP, including relevant institutional
mechanisms.
1.2
Territorial
integrity and Relations with
neighbours
The
Republic of Moldova wishes to find a peaceful resolution
for the Transdniestrian conflict as soon as
possible.
To this end, Moldova considers imperative the
participation of all interested international actors in
the negotiation process and first of all that of the EU,
the United States of America, Russia, and Ukraine. In
the context of the settlement of the conflict, special
attention is attached to securing the Moldovan-Ukrainian
state border, particularly, of the Transdniestrian
sector of the state border. The state promotes good
neighbourly relations with Romania and Ukraine. The
future development of the relationship with Romania will
be increasingly based on common European values. The
Republic of Moldova wishes to have a lasting and
reciprocally advantageous relationship with Russia.
Moldova will intensify its cooperation with other states
in the framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern
Europe, BSEC, SEECP, SEEGROUP, and GUAM aimed at
strengthening regional stability and
security.
1.3
Democratic
Reforms, human rights, rule of law, and fight against
corruption
The
Republic of Moldova will continue cooperation with the
Council of Europe, the OSCE and the European Union to
promote democratic reforms in order to ensure the
supremacy of law and to adapt national legislation and
practices in the field of human rights to the relevant
international standards. Moldova will continue reform of
the judiciary, electoral system, and central and local
state administration. The legal framework regarding
freedom of press and access to information by the public
will be improved as well. Moldova will enhance its
efforts in combating corruption, including through its
participation in GRECO and the Stability
Pact.
1.4
Combating
terrorism and organised crime
The
Republic of Moldova will improve its legal and
institutional framework, will enhance cooperation and
coordination mechanisms between its institutions, will
establish cooperative relations with the respective
divisions of the NATO International Staff and Allied
states, and will consolidate its export control
mechanisms and measures against money laundering in
order to better oppose international terrorism,
organized crime and trafficking in human beings. In this
regard, Moldova will strengthen its cooperation with UN,
OSCE, IOM, Interpol and other international
organizations.
1.5
Democratic
Control of the Armed Forces
In
deepening its relationship with NATO, the Republic of
Moldova will ensure the Moldovan Armed Forces serve and
secure the democratic development of the state. Thus the
commitment to build a viable capability for the security
of the nation is possible under comprehensive democratic
control of the Armed Forces. Strengthening the role of
civilian decision-makers in the framework of the entire
national security system and civilianization of military
institutions, as well as implementing NATO standards in
restructuring the Armed Forces and improving access of
the media and public to defense and security matters are
particular steps to be taken in this regard. In
this field, the Republic of Moldova will review and, if
necessary, will improve the legal framework regarding
the sharing of responsibilities between the supreme
state bodies. The best international experience in this
domain will be implemented. Moldovan authorities will
gradually increase
the number of civilian personnel at the Ministry of
Defense and will encourage civil society involvement in
defense and security issues.
1.6
Economic
development and policy
priorities
In
order to promote its stable and lasting development the
Republic of Moldova will implement the provisions of the
Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme
(EGPRSP), as well
as those of the social-economic component of the
Moldova-EU Action Plan. Moldova will promote the
principles of fair economic competition and will improve
the business environment in the country, will take
measures in order to enhance its economic and energy
security, and will develop cooperation with
international financial
institutions.
1.7
Cooperation
with other international
organisations
During
the implementation of the IPAP, the Republic of Moldova
will work with the EU and other active international
organizations represented in the country to ensure complementarily
and avoid unnecessary duplication between the IPAP, the
Moldova-EU Action Plan, and the EGPRSP. Special
attention will be paid to consultations with NATO, OSCE,
UNDP, UNEP, and other international
institutions/agencies to implement projects regarding
the consolidation of environmental security in the
country and in the region.
CHAPTER
2: DEFENCE AND MILITARY ISSUES
2.1.
Establishment of structures to conduct
reforms
The
Republic of Moldova intends to undertake a reform of all
its security and defense structures in order to build a
viable capability for the security of the nation and to
have the capacity to contribute to international
operations on an appropriate scale. In this regard
Moldova considers as essential the development of a
National Security Concept, a National Security Strategy,
and a National Military Strategy. Based on these main
documents a Strategic Defense Review under the
supervision of its Supreme Security Council will be
conducted.
2.2.
Military interoperability and
training
The
Republic of Moldova regards interoperability as
essential, and intends to establish corresponding
institutions and their training management policies and
procedures as related to the development of overall
armed forces standards and practices. The main goal is
to have forces capable to act together with those of the
Allies and partners in multinational peacekeeping and
humanitarian release operations. These objectives are
also essential to the goals of interoperability and
building a partially professional force with a
professional NCO and officer corps for quick and
adequate response to a crisis or conflict
situation.
2.3.
Personnel training, management and
recruitment
The
Republic of Moldova intends to improve personnel
training and recruitment of its Armed Forces and to
strengthen
military personnel management, and to train the military
on human rights and democratic
accountability.
2.4.
Long
term plans for Consultation, Command and Control (C3),
Logistics, Equipment, and Airspace Surveillance and
Management
The
Republic of Moldova will develop a long term plan for
Consultation, Command and Control (C3) and architecture
for C3. Moldova considers the improvement of the legal
instruments for civil-military co-operation and
co-ordination to utilise fully the national Air Traffic
Management system whilst recognizing the need to satisfy
the security requirements of the country. Moldova
intends to develop
also a modern ground-based air defence capability, to
establish a modern air surveillance system, and to
pursue bilateral agreements to receive relevant primary
radar data from Romania and Ukraine. Using the results
of the SDR long term plans for Logistics and Equipment
are also envisaged.
2.5.
Improve security of armament and
ammunitions
The
Republic of Moldova will establish a transparent and
accountable armament and ammunition security mechanism.
Therefore Moldova will ensure the implementation of
western standards in this regard. This effort is a part
of the wider non-proliferation policy of the Republic of
Moldova.
2.6.
Carabineer Troops
The
Republic of Moldova considers the reform of its
Carabineer Troops as an important part of a
comprehensive security and defence sector reform. In
this regard Moldova intends to review the roles and
responsibilities of the Carabineer Troops and to
integrate properly the respective military capabilities
into the National Army. Moldova considers important the
improvement of the operational capabilities of its
Carabineer Troops.
2.7.
Border Guard Service
In
the context of a thorough security and defense sector
reform launched in the framework of IPAP, Moldova
considers essential the transformation of its Border
Guard Service into a law enforcement body. The Republic
of Moldova intends to set up a modern and efficient
border securing capability in line with EU standards.
Adequately adapted to the security needs of the Republic
of Moldova, its Border Guard Service will be an
indispensable element of the wider security system of
the country.
CHAPTER
3: PUBLIC INFORMATION, SCIENCE, AND CIVIL EMERGENCY
PLANNING
3.1
Public
Information on Security and Defence
Matters
The
Republic of Moldova intends to create a Public Diplomacy
Task Force with the participation of state authorities,
civil society, and mass media and to develop a
National
Information Strategy on security issues to
ensure that the security and defence transformation and
modernisation, including democratic and civilian control
over the armed forces, is understood and supported by
the Moldovan people.
3.2.
Science Committee (SCOM) and Committee on the Challenges
of Modern Society (CCMS)
The
Republic of Moldova will strengthen scientific
co-operation with NATO in order to improve the
efficiency of the reform of the security and defence
sectors. Moldova seeks sustainable development of its
scientific and technical potential, thus ensuring
adequate environmental standards and increasing the
preparedness of the state to meet the challenges of
modern society.
3.3
Crisis Management, Civil Emergency Planning and
Emergency Preparedness
The
Republic of Moldova will enhance its Civil Emergency
Planning and Emergency Preparedness system, as well as
its crises management capabilities. Moldova intends to
continue this process until its Civil Emergency Planning
and Emergency Preparedness system becomes fully
adaptable to the security needs of the country. Moldova
will consult with NATO in the development of best
practices for Civil Emergency
Planning.
CHAPTER
4: ADMINISTRATIVE, PROTECTIVE SECURITY, AND RESOURCE
ISSUES
4.1
Administrative
Issues
In
the context of the political decision of Moldovan
authorities to deepen cooperation with NATO through
implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan
(IPAP) and, respectively, the decision of the Alliance
to support this initiative, a number of measures in
order to consolidate national institutional capabilities
were taken in Moldova. The National Commission for IPAP
Drafting and Implementation was established. This
Commission brings together leaders of important state
institutions (the Parliament, the Supreme Security
Council, ministries and other state institutions) and of
civil society structures. The Commission is accountable
to the President in his capacity of the Head of the
Supreme Security Council and the Commander-in-chief of
the Armed Forces.
4.2
Resources
The Republic of Moldova intends in
cooperation with NATO to identify and prioritize
assistance needed to successfully implement the IPAP.
Moldova will evaluate its planning and budgeting systems
to better serve this goal.
4.3 Protective
Security
The Republic of Moldova will ensure
full implementation of the security agreement signed
between the Government of Moldova and NATO and will
enhance the national system of information
protection.
|
Objectives
Actions |
Moldovan Objectives
Specific national
measures |
Timelines
|
|
1.3.1 |
In conjunction with the OSCE,
Council of Europe, and European Union, continue to
prepare and implement democratic
reforms |
|
|
Action 1 |
Modify the Parliament
Regulation to meet European standards |
ongoing
|
|
Action 2 |
Align national legislation
and practice with the European Charter on Local
Self-Government |
2008 |
|
Action 3
|
Build and sustain an
efficient, open and continuous dialogue between
the state institutions and civil society. |
ongoing |
|
Action 4 |
Seek to engage civil society
representatives in a long-term partnership with
state institutions. In particular, implement the
Concept of Cooperation Between the Parliament and
Civil Society. |
ongoing |
|
Action 5 |
Fully implement the
recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the CoE regarding the functioning of democratic
institutions in the Republic of Moldova and the
respective Decision of the Parliament of the
Republic of Moldova (nr. 284-XVI of 11.11.2005).
In the framework of the IPAP review, report
periodically to NATO on the level of fulfillment
of these commitments undertaken by the country.
|
2006-2007 |
|
1.3.2 |
Implement electoral
reform |
|
|
Action 1 |
In accordance with relevant
CoE and OSCE advice, further improve the national
and local electoral process |
2006-2008 |
|
1.3.3 |
Continue reform of central
state institutions and regional
administrations |
|
|
Action 1 |
Further delineate the
competencies and refine the interaction of the
different branches of power |
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Implement relevant provisions
of the Strategy of Reform of the Central Public
Administration |
2006-2008 |
|
1.3.4 |
Ensure further judiciary
reform |
|
|
Action 1 |
Conduct further reform in
order to ensure a more transparent and accessible
legal process |
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Take necessary steps to
improve the execution of courts decisions |
2006-2008 |
|
Action 3
|
Review existing legislation,
so as to ensure the independence and impartiality
of judges and prosecutors, and to strengthen the
capacity of the judiciary in line with European
standards |
2006-2008
|
|
1.3.5 |
Develop effective and
transparent legislative and judicial oversight of
the defence sector, including
appropriate arrangements to conduct due legal
process |
|
|
Action 1 |
Optimise the role of the
Legislature in overseeing defence and security
activities by enhancing the
involvement of relevant parliamentary
committees. |
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Take steps to enhance
specific education and training in overseeing
defence and security activities for
Parliamentarians and their staffs. |
ongoing |
|
Action 3 |
Establish a clear mechanism
to ensure access for parliamentarians to
information on national defence activities |
2006-2008 |
|
Action 4 |
Review the existing Code of
Military Discipline |
2006-2008 |
|
Action 5 |
Improve the system dealing
with complaints from military personnel |
ongoing |
|
1.3.6 |
Ensure freedom of press,
expression and assembly |
|
|
Action 1 |
Amend Moldovan legislation
and ensure full enforcement of laws in order to
achieve compliance with article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) with regard to
guaranteeing freedom of speech and opinion |
2006-2007 |
|
Action 2 |
Review the legal framework
that regulates the audiovisual sphere in Moldova
and amend as necessary to bring it in line with
CoE standards |
2006-2007 |
|
Action 3 |
Take steps to enhance
specific education and training for journalists
specialised in defence and security matters |
2006-2007 |
|
Action 4
|
Study Moldovan legislation on
access to classified and secret information of
public interest with the goal of improving the
transparency of government institutions and
protecting human rights |
2007 |
|
Action 5 |
Amend legislation as
necessary to implement findings of the study on
access to classified and secret information of
public interest |
2008-2009 |
|
1.3.7 |
In conjunction with CoE,
OSCE, EU and other relevant international bodies,
ensure that human rights legislation and practice
are in line with internationally recognised
standards |
|
|
Action 1 |
Implement National Plan for
Human Rights 2004-2008 |
2006-2008 |
|
Action 2 |
Adapt legislation and
practice as necessary to ensure the Moldovan legal
system meets ECHR standards |
ongoing |
|
Action 3 |
Ensure implementation of
international human rights commitments, in
particular through ratification of the European
Charter of Regional and Minority Languages and
proper implementation of the National Minorities
Protection Framework Convention of the CoE. |
ongoing |
|
Action 4 |
Improve the human rights
accountability mechanism; ensure a more
transparent procedure for the appointment of the
Ombudsperson |
2007 |
|
Action 5 |
Carry out educational
programs to increase human rights awareness among
public officials |
ongoing |
|
Action 6 |
Adjust the national legal
framework related to the rights of
refugees to EU standards |
2007 |
|
1.3.8 |
Fight against
corruption |
|
|
Action 1 |
Participate actively in GRECO
activities and implement GRECO anti-corruption
recommendations; participate actively in the
Anti-corruption Initiative of the Stability Pact
|
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Implement the National
Strategy to Prevent and Combat Corruption through
the execution of annual anti-corruption action
plans |
2008-2009 |
|
Action 3 |
Ensure efficient functioning
of the Centre for Combating Economic Crimes and
Corruption, including effective intra-governmental
coordination |
ongoing
|
|
Action 4 |
Institute a clear and
transparent accountability mechanism for
preventing and dealing with corruption. |
2007 |
|
Action 5 |
Improve corruption awareness
by enhancing training and education of public
officials |
ongoing |
|
Action 6 |
Coordinating anti-corruption
activities deployed by public authorities, civil
society and the private sector |
ongoing |
|
Objectives
Actions |
Moldovan Objectives
Specific national
measures |
Timelines
|
|
1.4.1 |
Enhance Moldovan capabilities
to combat terrorism, including its capabilities to
manage crises caused by terrorist acts. |
|
|
Action 1 |
|
2007-2008 |
|
Action 2 |
|
2007-2009 |
|
Action 3 |
Enhance anti-terrorism and
consequence management capabilities through
conducting national consequence management
exercises |
2007-2008 |
|
Action 4 |
Implement international
anti-terrorism conventions and other relevant
international legal instruments; ensure further
consolidation of the national legal framework for
fighting against terrorism; Draft a new redaction
of the Law no. 633 on Prevention and Combating of
Money-Laundering and Terrorism Funding and amend
the Administrative Contraventions Code. |
2006 |
|
Action 5 |
Improve interoperability
between military and special counter-terrorism
units, and prepare them for possible participation
in NATO-led operations in accordance with special
decisions of Moldovan authorities
|
ongoing
|
|
1.4.2 |
Contribute to relevant EAPC
activities related to the fight against terrorism
within the PAP-T framework |
|
|
Action 1 |
Establish liaison and engage
in information sharing with NATO via the
Intelligence Liaison Unit (ILU), and raise
awareness of NATO’s/Moldova’s
intelligence requirements and interests |
ongoing
|
|
Action 2 |
Development of trust between
NATO and Moldova in the Intelligence field by
establishing and maintaining permanent
relationships through a nominated Moldovan ILU
Point of Contact (POC) responsible for
co-ordination of national position. |
2006 |
|
Action 3 |
Elaborating a list of topics
for an exchange programme, specifying particular
areas of NATO-Moldova interest on which
co-operation is desired in the fight against
terrorism, in order to ask the Nations to mark
information under these topics for release to
Moldova and vice versa. |
2006 |
|
Action 4 |
Establish, via the ILU, the
procedure to send and receive Requests for
Information (RFIs) |
2006-2007 |
|
Action 5 |
Explore practical options and
make recommendations about the mechanics and
procedures to achieve effective intra-governmental
information sharing. |
2006-2007 |
|
Action 6 |
Enhance the contribution
of the Moldovan
scientific community and expert networks to the
fight against terrorism through co-operation under
the Security Through Science (STS) programme |
ongoing |
|
1.4.3 |
Develop effective and
transparent arrangements and practices to ensure
compliance with internationally accepted norms and
practices for export controls on defence
technology and military equipment, including
SALW |
|
|
Action 1 |
Develop appropriate
enforcement mechanisms and procedures; incorporate
the principles of the European Code of Conduct on
Arms Exports into national legislation and working
procedures |
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Adopt the Protocol against
Manufacturing and Illegal Trafficking of Firearms
and their Components and Spare Parts |
2006 |
|
Action 3 |
Ensure appropriate training
for military and civilian personnel involved in
implementing relevant norms and practices |
ongoing |
|
Action 4 |
Undertake a full review of
existing weapons and ammunitions in order to
establish a valid baseline for future control |
2007-2008 |
|
Action 5 |
Improve release of public
information regarding the way Moldova complies
with international commitments |
ongoing |
|
1.4.4 |
Further develop legislation
on combating money laundering and financing
terrorism |
|
|
Action 1 |
Take further steps to bring
the legislation and capacities against money
laundering in line with international
standards |
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Implement practical steps to
suppress terrorism financing as foreseen by UNSC
Resolution 1378 |
ongoing |
|
1.4.5 |
Enhance Moldova’s
capabilities in combating organised crime,
including the management of the crisis caused by
organised criminal activity. |
|
|
Action 1 |
Improve the legislation on
combating organised crime |
ongoing |
|
Action 2 |
Ratify European Convention on
combating trafficking in human beings |
2006 |
|
Action 3 |
Finalize Strategic
Cooperation Agreement between Moldova and EUROPOL.
|
2006 |
|
Action 4 |
Ratify the Additional
Protocol on Rights of the Child, Trade in
Children, Infantile Pornography, and
Prostitution |
2006 |
|
Action 5 |
Enhance international
cooperation in combating terrorism and organized
crime, including bilateral cooperation with Allies
and the countries of the region |
ongoing |
