Great Britain to assist Moldova in implementation of reforms

Chisinau, 18 April /MOLDPRES/-Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu today and authorities in charge of implementing projects aimed to back key-reforms in Moldova, discussed the need to efficiently turn to good account the assistance opportunities the British government’s department for International Development is offering Moldova, through the Good Governance Fund.

According to British officials, 21 projects have been implemented during the six past months since the launch of the Good Governance Fund in Moldova. The projects aim to improve regional development, enhance the business environment, ensure energy security, reorganize the tax system and the public spending management. They also focus on the liberalization and modernization of the banking system, consolidation of the rule-of-law state, justice reform and fighting corruption.

Candu thanked British authorities for the financial assistance and consultancy of local and international experts in charge of implementing the projects. The Moldovan speaker assured that the parliament would back the efficient management of the assistance aimed to support necessary reforms in Moldova.

“As an associate state, Moldova has entered a modernization phase. Unfortunately, the lack of experience and expertise is sometimes visible. We welcome the launch of the Good Governance Fund in Moldova and praise the fact that planned projects aim to back the efforts authorities take to implement the reforms we are committed to. We are facing great challenges in various sectors, especially in the financial-banking and energy fields. Therefore, it is important that we do our homework. We are firmly determined to ensure Moldova’s change for better in the shortest time possible and apply for the accession to the European Union,” Candu noted.  

For his part, the head of the Diplomatic Service at the British Foreign Ministry, Sir Simon McDonald said  Moldova could be seen as an European partner. “Great Britain and Moldova are at opposite sides in terms of geographical location. However, they are on the same continent. We have different histories, but we share the same destiny. The British government will back Moldova in the enforcement of its EU destiny, if citizens choose this way,” McDonald said.

The British government offers assistance for reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine, through the Good Governance Fund. A Programme Management Unit (PMU) was created in each country, in order to ensure the current management and assistance of reforms. The PMU will offer Moldova technical assistance to help it become more resistant to external and internal political and economic shocks. The unit will further back Moldova’s economic growth and stability. The assistance programme is coordinated by PwC Great Britain and PwC Moldova, Expert-Grup Analytical Center in tight cooperation with the British Embassy in Chisinau.

(Editor L. Alcaza)