Moldovan foreign minister meets European Parliament members' delegation

Chisinau, 5 February /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Andrei Galbur today had a meeting with European Parliament MPs Heido Hautala, co-chair of EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly, co-chairwoman of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Rebecca Harms and EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee member Peter Eriksson, on a fact-collecting visit to Moldova, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.  

The officials exchanged opinions on the European agenda of Moldova, in particular, the priorities of implementing the Moldova – European Union Association Agreement. Minister Andrei Galbur thanked the European Parliament lawmakers for their contribution to increasing the EU’s assistance for carrying out the reforms provided for in the Association Agreement.  

The sides paid increased attention to enhancing the role of the parliamentary dimension in ensuring the enforcement of the Association Agreement. The officials stressed the importance of consultations within the platforms of the Moldova-European Union Parliamentary Association Committee and the one of the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly. Minister Andrei Galbur thanked particularly for keeping Moldova on the list of priority countries of the European Parliament for providing the democratic support in 2016. The diplomat said this would help further consolidate the institutional capacities of the Moldovan parliament.       

The sides also exchanged opinions on the social and political situation in Moldova. Andrei Galbur emphasized that the new cabinet was firmly determined to continue the course of Moldova’s European integration and implement the reforms seen in the Association Agreement with the European Union, in particular, concerning the fight against corruption, reforming the justice system and strengthening the state based on the rule of law.   

The MEPs encouraged the Moldovan authorities to continue implementing the structural reforms, in line with the commitments assumed in the Association Agreement with EU. The European lawmakers reiterated willingness to further back the efforts undertaken to this end. In this context, they stressed the importance to promote an open dialogue with the civil society.   

(Editor M. Jantovan)