Moldovan PM, European official broach reforms in regional policy

Chisinau, 18 March /MOLDPRES/- On a visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici has had a meeting with European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

Gaburici reiterated the commitment to the country's European integration process. He emphasised Moldova's achievements in this respect. The prime minister spoke out for continuing the pro-European reforms in all sectors, not only the ones deemed as priority in the government's action programme for the next four years.

The set goals are focused on ensuring the enterprises' access to the technical infrastructure to start business, boost development of business in rural area, create conditions for drawing investments and their fair distribution to regions, to improve the quality and impact of the participation of regions and Euro-regions in the cross-border cooperation.

"Our firm commitment is to enhance the quality  of services provided to citizens and to reduce the administrative costs and gaps between regions, including by carrying out the territorial and administrative reform and decentralisation," he noted.

Gaburici said Moldova had made more success in the concerned sector, and realized that ensuring continuity of reforms could be guaranteed only by offering an adequate financial support.

Another topic for discussion was focused on accessing structural funds and European investments. For her part, Cretu said that now was the right time to start reflections on possibilities to extend the Eastern Partnership countries' access to European funds.

The officials exchanged opinions on cooperation in different regional and subregional formats, with Moldova paying special importance to cooperation in the Danube region. This zone has a significant potential for development in terms of energy efficiency, trade promotion and boosting economic development.

(Editor L. Alcaza)