Top French official says France fully committed to back Moldova's European integration

11:23 | 27.03.2015 Category: Official

Chisinau, 27 March /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman today met French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Désir, on a visit to Moldova, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.

Natalia Gherman thanked for the ratification of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement by the French Senate and was confidence that it would also be soon ratified by the National Assembly. Gherman said that France’s support for Moldova’s European path confirmed the progress recorded by the authorities in enforcing the Accord.

“The launch of EU accession talks is a strategic goal for the present government. The submission of the EU accession application is a very important step and the opportune moment will be identified with maximum responsibility, along with the European partners. The more results we achieve following the implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, the more chances we will have for a positive reaction in this respect on behalf of the member states,” Gherman said.

For his part, Harlem Desir said that the priorities of the present Moldovan government were in compliance with the provisions of the Association Agreement, and once achieved, they would make Moldova more stable and more modern, which was is in the interest of both the Moldovan citizens and EU. “France is fully committed to help the new Moldovan government, both as EU member and at bilateral level,” Desir said.

The sides also stressed the new opportunities provided by the Free Trade Area, including on the left bank of Dniester, in order to bolster trade exchanges and attract French investors. An important role in this area is ascribed to the Moldovan-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the same time, the officials praised the Moldovan-French dynamic cooperation in the area of education, sciences and culture, as well as the significant contribution of the French Alliance to promote projects on Moldova’s modernisation. The sides spoke out for diversifying the multilateral collaboration between the two countries.

During the officials’ joint news conference, Natalia Gherman informed that French Prime Minister Manuel Valls would pay a visit to Moldova in the first half of 2015.

(Editor A. Raileanu)

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