Around 70,000 Moldovans live and work in the United Kingdom (U.K.). On January 31, 2020, they still woke up in the European Union (EU), but after 11 p.m. they were already outside the EU’s borders. The U.K. Ambassador to Moldova, Steven Fisher explains what does the Brexit mean for Moldovans in the U.K. and about Moldova – U.K. bilateral relations. 

What does the Brexit mean for Moldovans in the U.K.? How will the Brexit affect Moldova – U.K. relations in the following months and years? 

Moldovans living and working in the U.K. will not feel essential changes. The withdrawal agreement signed by the U.K. and the EU sets a transition period. This agreement will allow sufficient time for the U.K. and EU to set the terms of future cooperation – in the field of trade, investment, research and development, foreign policy, cooperation in the field of justice and many other fields. 

The U.K. is convinced that the transition period will end on December 31, 2020. The U.K. would like to have an agreement with the EU, based on free trade and friendly relations, an agreement similar to that between Canada and the EU. 

During the transition period, the current rules will continue to apply regulating relations between the U.K. and the EU. The U.K.’s relations with EU’s partners will still be managed under the bilateral international agreements previously signed by the EU with its partners, such as the EU – Moldova Association Agreement. 

Therefore, till the end of 2020, the trade and investment between Moldova and the U.K. will abide by the regulations from the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. 

British and Moldovan officials are working on completing a new bilateral agreement between the U.K. and Moldova, to replace the Association Agreement. It will be enforced on January 1, 2021, and will guarantee that there is no uncertainty for the citizens of both states. 

How the bilateral relations will evolve between Moldova and the U.K.?

Since January 31, 2020, the dialogue with the Moldovan government on political, regional and global issues is purely bilateral – government to government. The U.K. will continue to share the values ​​of our friends in the EU, respecting the same rules and standards regarding human rights. 

At the same time, the U.K. will achieve an independent and secure foreign policy, building strong relations with all the sovereign states. 

We will continue our previous work here in Moldova, by further supporting the defense sector reform. The U.K. will also continue developing its Chevening scholarship program, allowing Moldovans to complete their Master’s Degree studies in the U.K. The fund for Good Governance will promote both administrative reforms, aiming to improve competitiveness, as well as freedom of the press. The Fund for Preventing Conflicts, Supporting Stability and Security will continue to contribute to creating conditions towards the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

The U.K. will continue promoting the trade and investments which are necessary to create jobs and bring prosperity in both countries. Some investors and exporters from the U.K. are already here. I think many others would come to Moldova if the justice reform would be successfully implemented so that the country will finally enjoy a free and independent justice that the citizens really want and deserve. 

The government that will complete the complicated but valuable justice reform will enter the history of the country as the one that put the country on a path of prosperity and security.

Editor’s Note: This article is an editorial written by Steven Fisher, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Moldova. The views and opinions expressed in it are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ziarul de Gardă.