Moldovan speaker attends annual forum of debates on European integration

Chisinau, 11 October /MOLDPRES/- Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu today participated in opening of an annual forum of debates on Moldova’s European integration. He said “the talks about Moldova’s orientation between East and West are useless. No one of opposition should make illusions about change of the country’s European integration, as there is no better model of development for Moldova than the one presented by the EU”.

The speaker made a review of achievements and arrears during two years of implementing the Association Agreement with EU.

“If we do an x-ray, we can say that in first six months of activity of the new government, massive mobilization of institutions was relatively managed, which led to implementing the Association Agreement. The most important thing is that we managed, on the background of political and financial crisis, to mobilize the institutions suffering from the crisis,” Candu said.

Candu also referred to the importance of the roadmap on priority reform agenda in implementing commitments to foreign partners, including by synchronizing agendas of parliament and government. He said implementation rate of about 95 per cent of the document denoted a development trend, which was appreciated by the EU too.

“The roadmap was a very effective tool for mobilization. Although it was a document in response to crisis, it managed to return us in implementing the Association Agreement and to relaunch reforms that stagnated. Although there were arrears in the spring session, they were liquidated in the current session by taking responsibility by the government. It was not easy, but it has been shown that if there is political will, you can do a lot,” he said.

The speaker assured that in next period, all actions related to reforms assumed under the roadmap would be completed, as the implementation of the Association Agreement remained a priority for parliament. He said that parliamentary hearing had been organized as regards the results of implementing the provisions of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and EU, as well as developments in the energy sector of the country. The speaker said hearing on achievements and arrears in implementing the laws on justice reform would be organized in the coming days.

Candu also referred to the priorities for the next period focused on relaunch of cooperation with IMF and signing a new country programme, remediation and consolidation of the financial-banking sector, ensuring energy security, justice reform, as well as monitoring effective implementation of laws adopted by parliament.

The event represents a discussion platform on challenges faced by Moldova on European integration and implementation of the Association Agreement. Also, issues related to the level of implementing the Association Agreement, actions to combat corruption and justice reform, risks and evolutions in the Transnistrian conflict settlement are to be tackled at the event.

The event, organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung foundation, Foreign Policy Association, in partnership with the Foreign and European Integration Ministry, brings together decision makers from Moldova and EU, politicians, experts, representatives of civil society and international institutions.

(Editor M. Jantovan)