Moldovan parliament speaker meets EU official

Chisinau, 23 October /MOLDPRES/- Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu has met European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.

The talks were focused on enforcement of provisions of the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, including in the Transnistrian region, political developments and banking crisis in Moldova.

Candu noted that the parliament had approved a legislative programme on meeting commitments assumed within the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, due to be implemented in 2015-2016. At the same time, a legislative programme for 2015 autumn session was approved. It sees a string of legislative priorities to boost the country’s European integration, justice reform, efficient fight against corruption and improvement of citizens’ living standards.

The speaker said the implementation of the reforms would lead to regaining trust of citizens, development partners, as well as of foreign investors. He voiced hope that the EU Mission’s activity in Moldova would boost the justice reform.

“The banking crisis we are facing is a challenge for us. Investigations on the matter continue and, along with international experts, we look for solutions to identify guilty people and recover the damage. It is important that we amend the legislation not to admit the repeating of such situation, as well as to create a reliable investment environment”, he said.

Candu reiterated that the Moldovan and European parliaments would extend cooperation within an action programme on consolidating institutional capacities to approximate and adjust the national legislation to the EU acquis. Also, the speaker noted that the Moldovan parliament was set to boost cooperation with a string of European parliaments within twinning projects to take over experience and good practices.

For her part, Cecilia Malmstrom pointed out that there was a firm determination on behalf of EU to back Moldova and encouraged the authorities to continue implementing reforms, despite the difficult political and economic situation in the country.

“The Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement give Moldova many possibilities, and pressing ahead with the reforms by Moldovan authorities will provide more opportunities to Moldovans. DCFTA enforcement shows a positive tendency, yet, there is much unused potential in the export of Moldovan products to the EU market”, she added.

(Editor L. Alcaza)