Moldovan PM ascertains nice achievements after one year of implementation of Association Agreement

Chisinau, 4 September /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet and Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman today held a joint news conference and discussed arrears, achievements and priorities of government on implementation of the Association Agreement, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

Strelet noted he had identified a number of actions due to be implemented in 2014-2015, which had not been met. "In the public administration reform, energy, environment or standardization we had a set of legislative and normative documents, which could not be adopted. There are arrears that cannot be justified so simple. I refer to the three problematic sectors: fight against corruption, justice reform and financial-banking stability", he added.

In the context, Strelet pointed out that the government had revised the National Action Plan on implementing the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, so that Moldova should continue European integration, under the provisions. Among the government priorities seen in the action plan for 2015-2016, the premier mentioned adopting and implementing the law on prosecution, adopting strategy on police reform 2016-2020, ensuring independence and consolidation of capacities of National Anti-corruption Centre, completing implementation of the IIIrd energy package. "Despite all the challenges and deficiencies, today, I am glad to ascertain that we have nice achievements after one year of enhanced efforts", he said.

The premier listed the achievements recorded in Moldova in carrying out the European agenda. It is about: creation and consolidation of national mechanism of coordinating, reporting and monitoring implementation of the Association Agreement, especially, preferential trade regime - Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, increasing trade with EU, efficient management of free movement regime, trade facilitation according to best European practices, harmonization of legislation in energy sector etc.

The Moldova-EU Association Agreement was signed on 27 June 2014. Since 1 September 2014, the document has been provisionally applied till its ratification by all EU member states. Presently, 26 out of 28 member states ratified the agreement. Italy and Greece are to complete internal procedures by late 2015.

 (Editor A. Răileanu)