Swedish speaker expresses firmness for Moldova to thrive, while Sweden to support

Chisinau, 8 October /MOLDPRES/ – Sweden will continue to support Moldova in its European course, encourage further reforms of the European agenda. The statement was made by Parliament Speaker of Sweden Urban Ahlin, at a meeting with Moldovan Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported. 

"It is a pleasure to come back to Moldova and to see the progress it makes in the process of modernization. Sweden is a major donor to Moldova and not because Sweden is a rich country, but because we strongly believe that Moldova can thrive and has potential," Urban Ahlin said.

Andrian Candu expressed thanks to Swedish authorities for financial support and technical assistance offered to Moldova over the years.

"Sweden is an important partner in promoting and implementing the objectives of the European integration of Moldova and one of the main donors of our country, which assist us and implement projects in various fields. Sweden is for us a very good development model, both at the level of political tolerance, economic development, innovation, renewable energy, with good social programs for the population," said the Moldovan speaker of the parliament.

During the talks, the Moldovan speaker referred to the priorities set for the autumn Parliament session, including the signing of a new program of Moldova with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the resumption of external financing for Moldova, strengthening country's energy sector through interconnection to the European gas and electricity networks, transparency in banking sector, creating more attractive business and investment conditions. At the same time, Andrian Candu said that the Parliament and the Government monitored the implementation of commitments to foreign partners, which were contained in the Roadmap on the reform agenda first, and currently is in the process of drafting an action plan for the implementation of the EU Association Agreement for the coming years.

The officials exchanged opinions on the political situation in Moldova, developments of the dialogue with Transnistria and Gagauzia, restoring the citizens’ confidence referred to authorities and more active involvement of civil society in decision-making, including at the parliamentary level.

"The Republic of Moldova needs fewer geopolitically tinged messages and discussions about identity, but more actions and concrete projects for economic development of the country. Through such projects, we hope to recover some of the citizens’ confidence, lost as a result of bank fraud, which, in turn, must be investigated fully and the banking system to be cleaned totally, so that people really feel that things are changing in the country. We need to consolidate society around national projects designed to develop Moldova", said speaker Candu.

At his turn, the Parliament Speaker of Sweden Urban Ahlin reiterated the support for Moldova’s modernization, stressing that Sweden would continue to support our country in raising living standards for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

"The Swedish Government, together with the Polish Government, initiated the Eastern Partnership to contribute to the development of the region, improve the standards of living, so that these countries to be ready to work with EU and to be able to strengthen their law institutions, in order to become stronger," said the Swedish speaker.

Andrian Candu and Urban Ahlin also discussed the support provided by Sweden in strengthening parliamentary democracy. In 2016-2018, a new technical assistance program for institutional development of the Moldovan parliament will be implemented, totaling approximately $4,5 million, financed by the Swedish government and funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova. The project objectives are to provide support to the parliament in implementation of the Association Agreement and the Association Agenda, increase the institution transparency, form the institutional capacity to improve the legislative function, the parliamentary oversight function and the representation of the parliament.  

After meeting with Andrian Candu, the parliament speaker of Sweden visited the courtroom and signed in the Book of Honour of the Parliament.

The Speaker of the Parliament of Sweden Urban Ahlin pays a visit to Moldova on 8-10 October 2016 and is accompanied by a delegation of MPs representing different political groups in the Parliament of Sweden.

(Editor L. Alcaza)