Moldovan prime minister asks to report on EU funds use

Chisinau, 7 September /MOLDPRES/ – Prime  Minister Pavel Filip asked the State Chancellery, at the beginning of today Government meeting to report on the use of European funds after the recent European Court of Accounts found that EU financial support for 2007-2015 in Moldova aimed to strengthen public administration, had had only a limited impact.

Pavel Filip said he would discuss with the European Union Delegation to Moldova to make details of EU fund management and there occurred problems about it. "We have already proved to our partners that, unlike previous governments, we are very determined to advance reforms and strengthen the state institutions," said the Premier.

The European Union has allocated Chisinau since 2007, financial assistance amounting to 782 million euros, which represents almost 37 euros per capita per year, more than other countries in the EU Eastern Neighbourhood.

The Prime Minister asked the State Chancellery to prepare "a report in more details on this external assistance, and the main shortcomings that accompanied it" as well as proposals to remedy these deficiencies. The Cabinet of Ministers’ Chief underlined that there have already been taken measures in order to eliminate difficulties in implementing EU assistance for Moldova.

Earlier, the penalties for EU funds crimes had been increased, correspondingly to create a framework for collaboration between the Republic of Moldova anti-corruption institutions and similar institutions in EU, such as European Anti-Fraud Office and the European Court of Accounts.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)