Moldovan president, European official tackle reforms, projects, cooperation

Chisinau, 2 July /MOLDPRES/ - President Nicolae Timofti today met rapporteur of the European Parliament for Moldova – European Union Association Agreement Petras Austrevicius, on a fact-collecting visit to Moldova, the presidential press service has reported.

The officials exchanged views about the political situation in Moldova and the regional context and emphasised the actions that should be taken in order to successfully implement the provisions of the Association Agreement.

Highlighting the good cooperation between Moldova and the European Union in various sectors, among which trade, agriculture, defence and security policy, the sides agreed on the need that the Moldovan authorities to deepen reforms in key areas as to development of Moldova and boost fight against corruption.

Petras Austrevicius underscored the importance to quickly create a new government in order to achieve goals assumed by Moldova within the Association Agreement. Austrevicius said that Moldova has the entire cooperation framework with the European Union in order to evaluate as to political and economic integration and, by conjugated efforts of state institutions, it may keep its leader position among the Eastern Partnership member states.

Petras Austrevicius informed that the European Parliament intends to expand cooperation with Moldova next week, by creating an interaction platform with the Moldovan parliament, political parties, Central Electoral Commission and other local institutions and organisations.

Nicolae Timofti was confident that once a new government created, Moldova would increase its tempo to implement reforms, continuing to be fully engaged in cooperation with the European Union and its institutions.

Timofti showed interest in developing common programmes meant to strengthen security in the region and limit effects of anti-European propaganda in Moldova. Timofti suggested that, in conditions of an ideational competition in the media, the accession of European values by Moldovans would be greater. „But, even if in these media conditions hostile to the pro-European project, our citizens showed an incredible civic spirit at the last elections, voting mainly for parties which spoke out for integration into the European Union,” Timofti said.

(Editor M. Jantovan)