Moldovan premier has phone conversations with EU officials

Chisinau, 31 October /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Iurie Leanca today had phone conversations with Jose Manuel Barroso, who ends his  mandate as president of the European Commission on 31 October, as well as Štefan Füle and Dacian Ciolos whose missions as European Commissioners expires, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The prime minister thanked the three officials for their support for Moldova's European integration. "You are true friends of Moldova and, if not for your personal contribution, our country would not have advanced so quickly in its European integration path," said Iurie Leanca.

The prime minister praised, in particular, the contribution of the European Commission to signing the Association Agreement and the creation of Free Trade Area with the European Union, approving the decision on lifting European visas for the Moldovan citizens, as well as doubling export quotas for domestic fruits on the EU market.

"The political association and economic integration with the European Union, visa-free travel, political and financial aid to support reforms to modernise Moldova, especially the clear recognition of the European perspective will allow us advancing during a new mandate of the European Commission,"  emphasised Iurie Leanca.

For their part, the three European officials expressed their confidence that Moldova would make progress towards European integration.

The European Commission will be headed by Jean-Claude Junker, considered a good friend of Moldova, starting from 1 November 2014. The new team has seven vice-presidents and for the first time ever, a senior vice president. Nine out of 28 members of the European Commission are women, and three of the latter are vice-presidents.