Moldovan parliament hosts meeting of European Union - Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee

Chisinau, 18 May /MOLDPRES/ - The Moldovan parliament has hosted the second meeting of the European Union – Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.  

The co-chairmen of the Parliamentary Committee, MP Mihai Ghimpu and MEP Andi Cristea, Deputy Foreign and European Integration Minister Daniela Morari, as well as Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola opened the meeting.   

At the event, European lawmakers and Moldovan MPs exchanged opinions on the progress made by Moldova in implementing the reforms’ agenda in priority fields.

Justice Minister Vladimir Cebotari referred to the implementation of reforms in the justice sector, observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Moldova. The deputy director of the National Anticorruption Centre, Cristina Tarna, unveiled the reforms in fighting corruption, and a member of the Audiovisual Coordination Council, Dragos Vicol touched upon reforms to ensure the mass media freedom. The head of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), Iurie Ciocan, spoke about the most important reforms in the public administration field. The participants in the meeting heard reports on the developments in the economic and financial sectors, presented by Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Octavian Calmic and Governor of the National Bank of Moldova Sergiu Cioclea.    

The co-chairman of the Civil Society Platform on behalf of Moldova, Alexei Buzu, and the co-chairman of the Platform on behalf of EU, member of the European Economic and Social Committee Dumitru Fornea presented the cooperation with the civil society – an important component in the context of implementing the Association Agreement.  

The co-chairperson of the Parliamentary Association Committee on behalf of Moldova, Mihai Ghimpu, has said that Moldova had no other way but the European one, and the European integration must be irreversible. “We also have arrears. The reforms proposed in draft laws will not be felt today or tomorrow; yet, concrete steps have been made. The approximation of the national legislation to the European standards is necessary. If we continue with the same pace, then I am sure that the situation will change in the country,” Ghimpu said.   

The co-chairman of the parliamentary Association Committee, Andi Cristea, said that Moldova made progress in reforms’ implementation, stressing that a real, visible and reliable promotion of reforms was needed. “The most important things for Moldova, at present, are dealing with the pressing ahead with the reforms, maintaining stability and the European course. It is necessary that the authorities regain the confidence of the European partners, but especially of their own citizens. We have established a meeting in Brussels for 26 September, in order to see the whole picture as regards the carrying out reforms following 31 July, when the Roadmap developed by the parliament and government expires,” European MP   Andi Cristea said.

The EU – Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee adopted the final declaration of the second meeting. The document finds out a string of achievements, as well as arrears recorded by Moldova. It also contains recommendations for the authorities of Moldova and European Commission.

(Editor L. Alcaza)