Bilateral relations between the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Diplomatic relations

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognized the independence of the Republic of Moldova on 31 December 1991.

The Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland established diplomatic relations on 17 January 1992.

First British Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Bernard Whiteside was accredited on 30 July 2002.

Current Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Moldova, Mr. Keith Shannon, took up his post on 1 April 2009.

First Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the United Kingdom was appointed Mrs. Mariana Durleşteanu, who was officially accredited to the Court of St. James’s in March 2005.

Currently, Mrs Mihaela Manoli, Counsellor of the Embassy, is Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in London.

Visits:

To the Republic of Moldova:

Mr. David Logan, Minister of State, FCO – May 1992;
Rt. Hon. Douglas Hogg QC MP, Minister for Europe, FCO – September 1994;
Mr. David Manning, Minister of State, FCO – May 2000;
Mr. George Foulkes, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DFID – June 2000;
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent – July 2004;
Lord Dubs, Chairman, Moldova All-Party Parliamentary Group – April 2006;
Lord Dubs, Chairman, Moldova All-Party Parliamentary Group – October 2006;
Mr. Geoff Hoon, MP, Minister for Europe, FCO – February 2007;
Mrs. Sylvia Heal, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons – July 2007;
Lord Dubs, Chairman, Moldova All-Party Parliamentary Group – October 2007;
Lord Dubs, Chairman, Moldova All-Party Parliamentary Group – September 2008;
Lord Dubs, Chairman, Moldova All-Party Parliamentary Group – October 2009.

To the United Kingdom:

Mr. Mihai Popov, Minister of Foreign Affairs – March 1996;
Mr. Mircea Snegur, President of the Republic of Moldova – October 1996;
Mr. Ion Sturza, Deputy Prime-Minister – January 1999;
Mr. Nicolae Tăbăcaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs – May 1999;
Mr. Andrei Stratan, Minister of Foreign Affairs – October 2004;
Mr. Marian Lupu, Speaker of the Parliament – January 2006;
Mr. Valeriu Pleşca, Minister of Defence – September 2006;
Mrs. Zinaida Greceanîi, First Deputy Prime-Minister - December 2006;
Mr. Marian Lupu, Speaker of the Parliament – January 2008;
Mrs. Mariana Durleşteanu, Minister of Finance – June 2008;
Mr. Vasile Şova, Minister of Reintegration – October 2008;
Mr. Vitalie Vrabie, Minister of Defence – November 2008;
Mrs. Natalia Gherman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration – November 2009;
Mr Iurie Leancă, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration – February 2010.

Legal framework

There are 10 agreements regulating bilateral cooperation.

Trade and investment

Exports: in 2009 exports from the Republic of Moldova to the United Kingdom amounted to 60,31 mil. USD, showing an increase against the previous year of 15,4 %. According to the data, UK is the 7th importer of Moldovan goods with a share of 4,7 % of the total Moldovan exports.

Import: in 2009 imports from the United Kingdom totaled 50,53 mil. USD. UK ranks 15 among trading partners of the Republic of Moldova on imports.

British investments in the Republic of Moldova

According to the National Statistics Bureau, as at October 2009, there were 108 joint-stock companies with British social capital operating in Moldova, totaling 2021,82 mil. million Moldovan lei.

Technical assistance

UK Assistance to the Republic of Moldova has been offered since 1991 via the Department for International Development (DFID). The overall DFID’s bilateral aid to Moldova offered in the period 1991-2009 totaled £ 20 million. In 2000, DFID opened its permanent representation in Moldova. Until 2004, major beneficiaries of the UK assistance were agricultural, banking and social sectors.

Under the Regional Assistance Plan for 2004-2007, projects have been developed in the following three core areas:

improving governance and institutional environment for poverty reduction;
promoting pro-poor sustainable growth;
strengthening the UK’s contribution to conflict resolution and peace building.

UK funds bilateral projects in a number of areas, such as strengthening of NGOs, Moldovan journalism training, police reform training programme, and others.

Through the joint FCO/MoD/DfID Global Conflict Prevention Pool, it is being developed a three-year Peace Building Framework project focussing on poverty alleviation through conflict resolution, mass-media training and people-to-people projects.

Assistance has been rendered to the to the Moldovan Government (line-ministries) on EU law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ministry of Reintegration, Customs Authorities and others.

After 18 years of activity Moldova, DFID has taken the decision about graduation from Moldova in March 2011 given the fact that Moldova was designated by the OECD in January 2009 as a (Lower) Middle Income Country.

By the time of graduation, overall DFID assistance will amount to 30 mln pounds.

Cultural and scientific cooperation

Educational programmes are offered to the Republic of Moldova mainly through the Chevening Scholarships and the John Smith Fellowship Programme.

The Chevening Scholarship – for the period of one academic year (from 9 till 12 months) – allows its graduates and young specialists from the Republic of Moldova to obtain Master’s Degree at British Universities in various areas, such as postgraduate studies in European integration, European legislation, journalism, economy and trade, environment, public administration, human rights, international relations, conflict resolution, politics.

Developing relations among young leaders from the Republic of Moldova and their partners from Great Britain, John Smith Fellowship Programme gives them a chance to learn democratic practices and good governance.

Since 2003, Abingdon School from Oxfordshire develops a partnership with Gymnasium „Grigore Vieru” from the Moldovan town of Ialoveni, and closely cooperates with Agape Charity Organisation.

Special notifications

UK Visas are compulsory for all types of passports and require an invitation letter.

Updated: May 2010