European Parliament supports Moldova in strengthening national defence, security

Chisinau, 22 July /MOLDPRES/ - The European Parliament will continue to support Moldova in strengthening national defence and security, further supporting reforms to modernise the country. Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu made statements to this effect during a meeting with a mission of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence, on a visit to Moldova, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported.

The main topics discussed during the meeting were related to the importance of strengthening the defence and security system of Moldova, developments in the breakaway Transnistrian region and the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, regional challenges, the activity of the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM).

Andrian Candu said they initialled the Agreement to form a parliamentary pro-European majority which would invest the government in the near future. "The priority of the new government will be to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while the parliamentary majority's priorities will be to support the continuous implementation of the reform agenda, in particular in the fields of justice, banking, fight against corruption, strengthening democratic institutions," said the parliament speaker.

At the same time, the speaker suggested organising training sessions at the European Parliament for Committee on National Security, Defence and Public Order public servants to take over best practices and the expertise of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. According to the parliament speaker, the exchange of experience will strengthen the parliament’s institutional capacities and expertise to speed up the implementation of the Association Agreement provisions on the security and defence component.

Andrian Candu also referred to the legislative initiative to establish a working group to provide, within constitutional norms, the functionality of the Gagauz autonomy of Moldova and the legal provisions in relation to the special status of Gagauzia. At the same time, the speaker announced that the dialogue at parliamentary level between the two sides of the Dniester River resumed this spring, after a long break and.

European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence Chairman Anna Elzbieta Fotyga said that MEPs would continue to closely monitor developments in the country, because Moldova was an important factor in maintaining regional security and the political stability in the country was crucial for an unstable region.

(Editor L. Alcaza)