Netherlands encourages Moldova to continues enforcing Association Agreement

Chisinau, 23 March /MOLDPRES/ - The Netherlands, which holds the Presidency of the European Union Council in the first half of 2016, encourages Moldova to continue implementing the Association Agreement and the reforms’ agenda. A statement to this effect was made at a meeting between Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu and Bucharest-based Dutch Ambassador to Moldova Stella Ronner-Grubačić, the parliament’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The discussions were focused on legislative priorities, synchronizing the efforts of the parliament and cabinet in liquidating the arrears in enforcing the Association Agreement, social and political developments in Moldova, as well as the Moldovan-Dutch cooperation.

The officials also discussed the willingness of the Netherlands to back new projects in Moldova. Statistics data shows that the Kingdom of the Netherlands ranks first among the countries to invest in registered share capital from Moldova. The Netherlands provides substantial technical and financial assistance to Moldova for economic development, justice reform, strengthening institutional capacities and situation in terms of human rights.   

“Priority is to regain the confidence of citizens and development partners as soon as possible, by concrete actions, not by nice words. The priorities of reforms, provided for in the Roadmap, signed together by the parliament and government, stipulate consolidation of the financial and banking system, reform in justice, fighting corruption, amending the mass media legislation and creating an attractive investment climate,” Andrian Candu said.    

The speaker also said the parliament was to establish a mechanism of coordinating in the European integration process and to set up a College/Council for European Integration. At the same time, Andrian Candu noted that, to turn the parliament’s work more transparent, the civil society would be more actively involved in the legislative process, with a new strategy of communication with the parliament due to be developed as well.

The parliament speaker also touched upon the activity of the working group for elaborating a draft law on amendment and completion of the Electoral Code. Andrian Candu said a public debate would be organised on the subject of amending the electoral legislation for the presidential polls, in which representatives of the civil society, authorities and international experts would participate.

For her part, Ambassador of the Netherlands Stella Ronner-Grubačić urged the Moldovan authorities to press ahead with implementation of the reforms’ agenda. “The reforms must be continued and their results should be visible and lead to stability in the country and efficient work of the democratic institutions. The citizens should see that the enforcement of the Association Agreement brings them benefits,” the ambassador added.    

(Editor L. Alcaza)