Regional cooperation

A serious contribution to the development of the informational society in the Republic of Moldova is achieved by the Ministry of Informational Development through the cooperation at the regional level, in the framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe initiatives, GUAM, BSEC, RCC and CIS.

2.1. Electronic South-eastern Europe Initiative

Electronic South-eastern Europe Initiative (eSEE) was launched in 2001, as a component of the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe, II Working Table “Economic reconstruction, Cooperation and Development”. It represents the main instrument of regional cooperation in the information and communication technologies area (IT&T) for South-eastern Europe and promoted actions in this frame are fully corresponding to the needs of updating, as well as to the expectations of European integration of the countries from the region. This facilitates the process of approaching to European Union and offers perspectives of European integration for e-SEE member states through the development of informational infrastructure and active use of intellectual potential at regional level. The Initiative favors the region integration into European and global economy based on knowledge and new technologies by offering practical assistance in promotion of some modern and balanced policies in the field of IT&T.

Member states of the eSEE are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia (including a separate delegation of UNMIK-Kosovo), Macedonia, Moldova and Montenegro.

Through common effort realized with the support and contribution of the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe, United Nations Development Programme and European Commission through General Directorate for Information Society and Media, member states have successfully prepared and implemented in the period of 2002-2006 a common Action plan for Information Society development - Agenda e-SEE.  .

Implementation of provision of the eESE Agenda resulted in realization of significant progresses by the Republic of Moldova in the following four directions:

1. consolidation of administrative capacities to develop IS (creation of a cabinet level body for the information and communication technologies branch development; national institution of regulation and national authority of public keys certification);
2. creation of legislative framework necessary at present phase for the branch development (national strategy on IS development, adoption of a set of laws according to European norms concerning: electronic communications; personal data protection; electronic document; digital signature; electronic commerce; cybercrime prevention);
3. promotion of the principles of IS for development (realization of an efficient national mechanism of financing and execution of national plans of IS development; examination of internal business-processes and use of new possibilities offered by ICT for reforming and modernization of public administration; launching of national projects of ability trainings in the field of ICT especially for public servants; use of European procedures of data collection and monitoring of the process of ICT branch development; development of eGovernment national programmes with creation and management of state information resources, electronic services rendering, on-line presence of public authorities, eDemocracy and eParticipation development; development of information systems for education and connection of education institutions to Internet; facilitation of wide access to new information technologies and development of electronic communication infrastructure);
4. establishing of favorable framework of regional collaboration in the field of IS development (multilateral exchange of experience concerning the branch development and participating in IT&T regional events; to profit from support accorded to region for IS development through recommendations and consultancy by donors – European Commision, UNDP, USAID, etc.).

Republic of Moldova profited fully from offered possibilities by this frame of collaboration and was permanently mentioned   among the countries who realized exemplary objectives by eSEE Agenda in the period of 2003-2007.

Due to the fact that from the political point of view and from practical impact on development of IT&T field, collaboration in the format of electronic South-eastern Europe Initiative was recognized one of the most successful activities of SEE Stability Pact, countries from the regions, with the support of European institutions and UNDP, decided to continue this activity in order that eSEE Initiative will move, starting with 2008, under the umbrella of Regional Council of Cooperation.

On 29th of Octomber, at Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina took place Ministerial Conference of electronic South Eastern Europe Initiative, where was officially signed “eSEE Agenda Plus”, which will cover the period of 2007-2012.  .

Agenda Plus is intended as a general framework for the Information Society development in South-eastern Europe with respective adjustments to the regional context, but following the European agenda „i2010” („A European Information Society for growth and employment”).

Further activities within the eSEE Initiative are planed to be developed in three main areas: establishment of a single informational space into South-eastern Europe; promotion of innovation and investment policies in ICT research and education; cooperation in Information Society development (Inclusive IS).

Additional information concerning e-SEE Initiative and participation of the Republic of Moldova in this regional process can be accessed at: http://www.stabilitypact.org; http://www.eseeinitiative.org .

Contact person in MID: Mr. Vitalie Tarlev, tel. 257-078, e-mail: tarlev.vitalie@mdi.gov.md.

The information was updated on 07.11.2007

2.2. GUAM Working Group for information and telecommunications

On December 19, 2005 in Chisinau took place the meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators of GUAM, which approved GUAM Working Program for the next period. Member States of GUAM agreed on development of cooperation in the field of informational technologies and creation of a Working Group in this regard. Coordinator of this Group becomes the Ministry of Informational Development of the Republic of Moldova.

On December 6, 2006, in Chisinau, took place the second meeting of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development and GUAM Working Group on information technologies. The participants examined the possibilities and perspectives of collaboration in the field of information society development in GUAM countries. At the end of the meeting they came to an agreement to create a network of GUAM coordinators in the field of information technologies. During the meeting it was decided that collaboration in this field should be adjusted to respective international and European standards. During the meeting the Republic of Moldova presented its experience in IS development, in the sphere of state registers creation and state information resources development, as well as other successful projects.

In the period of 18-19 June 2007, in Baku, Azerbaijan, took place the Summit of the Head of member-states of Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM. Within this framework was signed the Strategy on development of field collaboration of ODED-GUAM member-states . A component of this Strategy is the economic block, a part of which is Information Technologies compartment. Signing of this Strategy represents a new stage in the relations of collaboration, exchange of experience and implementation of common projects in the frame of ODED-GUAM in general, and in the field of ICT in particular.

Detailed information on this topic is accessible on: http://www.guuam.org and http://www.mfa.md.

Contact person: Mr. Ruslan Saviţchi, tel. 257-074, e-mail: savitchi.ruslan@mdi.gov.md

2.3. Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Working Group on information technologies and communications.

A growing attention in the BSEC area was assigned to the cooperation in the field of informational and communicational technologies. During the mandate of the Moldovan Presidency within BSEC, on 2-3 of June 2005, the representatives of the Ministry of the Informational Development of Moldova participated to the BSEC Working Group on informational and communicational technologies. The participants discussed the creation of an efficient regional communication system which should cover the economic, social and security needs of the Black Sea area countries with the connection of the communication infrastructure of the region to the Trans-European telecommunication network.

During October 15-19, 2006, Meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Working Group on information and communication technologies and Meeting of the Ministers responsible for the information technologies and telecommunications in the member states of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation took place in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Agenda of these meetings included: discussion regarding the results of the World Summit on Information Society; presentation of proposals regarding the projects in the sphere of ICT for BSEC Member States; approval of the Matrix of ICT Development in BSEC Member States; consideration of the draft Memorandum of Understanding Multilateral Cooperation in the field of postal services; adoption of Joint Declaration in the sphere of ICT of BSEC Member States; elaboration of Work Program for 2007 and appointment of the Ukraine as a coordinator country of the BSEC ICT Working Group.

Detailed information on this topic is accessible on: http://www.bsec-organization.org/ and http://www.mfa.md

Contact person: Mr. Ruslan Saviţchi, tel. 257-074, e-mail: savitchi.ruslan@mdi.gov.md.

2.4. Regional Community on Communication

A significant contribution to the development of the informational society in the Republic of Moldova is realized by the Ministry of Informational Development of Moldova through the participation into the Regional Community on Communication, as well as trough the bilateral cooperation with CIS member states. Position and interests of the Republic of Moldova concerning the participation to the Interstate Program for creation of an automated system of informational exchange between CIS member states consists of implementation of the CIS Summit Decision “On proposals of the Republic of Moldova for developing the directions of Concept on creation of informational area of CIS” and Decision nr. 4/5 of the Coordination Council of CIS “On proposals of the Republic of Moldova concerning creation of state national registers of population and legal entities, based on the national typical modules, with the informational exchange between CIS member states based on this registers”.

In 2005 the Regional Community on Communication elaborated the Strategy of cooperation in information area, the main goal of which is to develop the common information area with the perspectives of the integration into the global information society.

Details on this topic: http://www.rcc.org.ru.

Contact persons: Mr. Vasilii Semeniuc, tel. 257-076, e-mail: semeniuc.vasili@mdi.gov.md and Mrs. Olga Istratiuc, tel. 504-713, e-mail: istratuc.olga@registru.md