The Joint Statement on the Republic of Moldova-EU Mobility Partnership was signed on 5 June, 2008 in Luxembourg.The Mobility Partnership offers a political framework for cooperation with the EU (European External Action Service, European Commission, European Training Foundation - ETF and European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders - FRONTEX) and the EU Member States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Hungary) in the field of migration, targeting all the dimensions of cooperation of EU Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM).

The IOM assists Moldova in the implementation of the EU-Moldova Mobility Partnership in order to minimize the negative effects of migration and to harness the benefits of migration for development purposes, as well as to extend the benefits of the Mobility Partnership to Transnistria in order to contribute to the confidence building measures between the right and left-bank by diminishing the social pressure caused by the unsettled conflict over the societies.

The specific objectives of IOM's project with Moldova include:

1. To improve the links between the both banks’ academic and research community, enhancing the capacity of the Transnistria academic and research community, policy makers and local authorities to collect, analyze, disseminate and use data required for an efficient formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies for minimization of the negative social costs of migration and enhancing the development potential of migration.

2. To improve the Government’s and local authorities’ capacity in diaspora programming and enhancing the capacity of migrant associations and initiative groups (including the ones comprised of persons originating from Transnistria) in the destination countries to become active in support of local development of the homeland.

3. To enhance the protection of the rights and the social security of the Moldovan migrants working abroad, including the ones originating from Transnistria, developing and implementing innovative return and reintegration programmes, as well as promotion of economic empowerment of returning migrant workers and rural youth and women.

4. To identify, develop and implement specific activities targeting family members left behind by migrants (including Transnistria residents), as well as other vulnerable groups of population affected by migration, taking into account their vulnerability, in order to minimize the negative effects of migration.

Activities as part of this project include:

Activity 1:

The action works to support the advancing of the confidence between the academic and research communities from both sides of the Nistru, through fostering the implementation of the Mobility Partnership by updating and expanding the Extended Migration Profile to include Transnistria, and mapping the diaspora. The project is working towards improving the links between the both banks’ academic and research community, enhancing the capacity of the Transnistrian academic and research community, policy makers and local authorities to collect, analyze, disseminate and use data required for an efficient formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies for minimization of the negative social costs of migration and enhancing the development potential of migration.

Activity 2:

The project seeks to improve the out-reach capacities of the consular staff to the diaspora communities, including those originating from Transnistria, thus reinforcing ties of the diaspora members with the homeland and reinforcing the confidence-building measures in the human dimension – and to build the capacity of diaspora associations from both shores of Nistru river to get actively involved in the homeland development. The project activities work for improving the authorities’ capacity in diaspora programming and enhancing the capacity of migrant associations and initiative groups (including the ones comprised of persons originating from Transnistria) in the destination countries to become active in support of local development of the homeland.

Activity 3:

The project contributes to fostering the confidence building at human level between the two shores of Nistru river by implementing activities for enhancing the capacity of the authorities to develop and implement programs for promotion and facilitation of the return and professional reintegration of qualified and returning migrants through up-grading of the in-country system targeting migrant returnees and creation of a set of measures facilitating the return and socio-economic reintegration of various groups of returning migrants. The project works for enhancing the protection of the rights and the social security of the migrants working abroad, developing and implementing innovative temporary and permanent return and reintegration programs, as well as promotion of economic empowerment of returning migrant workers, rural youth and women.

Activity 4:

The project works to address the needs of vulnerable members of communities in Transnistria affected by migration or at risk of potential unsafe migration and/or being in precarious social situation in Transnistria, including the children and elderly relatives of migrants, women and children in crises situations. The project works for identifying, developing and implementing specific activities targeting family members left behind by migrants – including Transnistria residents, as well as other vulnerable groups of population affected by migration, taking into account their vulnerability, in order to minimize the negative effects of migration.