Moldova needs stability to boost up reforms, implement association agreement, Moldovan speaker says

Chisinau, 9 February /MOLDPRES/-Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu today held a face-to-face meeting with Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin, followed by a large-format meeting with MPs of all the Swedish parliament’s parliamentary factions, mainly members of the commission for foreign affairs, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.

The officials focused on Moldova’s political and social-economic development, economic situation, regional context, as well as authorities’ priorities to boost up reforms and implement the association agreement.

Candu thanked Swedish authorities for the assistance they offer Moldova, implementing numerous projects for the benefit of Moldovan citizens and providing it with annual financial assistance that accounts for approximately 14 million euros, due to last until 2020, within the Swedish strategy for reforms in Eastern Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey.

Touching upon the internal situation, Candu said Moldova needed economic and political stability. “We are firmly committed to boost up reforms and fill in the gaps in the implementation of the association agreement. We were given a last chance to prove citizens and foreign partners that Moldova’s development can register concrete results,” the speaker noted. In this context, he reiterated the important need for Moldova to sign a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), given the expertise Moldova needs to boost up its reforms.

For their part, Swedish MPs encouraged Moldovan authorities to continue reforms and EU integration efforts.

Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu ends his two-day visit to Sweden today. Candu held meetings at the Swedish Foreign Ministry, and also with experts of the Stockholm Institute for Security and Development Policies today. 

(Editor A. Raileanu)