Moldovan PM meets with European Commissioner

Chisinau, 21 June /MOLDPRES/ – Prime Minister Pavel Filip had a meeting with Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Negotiation for Enlargement, during a working visit to Brussels today, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

The officials discussed the implementation of the reforms in Moldova, and also the aspects regarding the draft amendment to the electoral system. Pavel Filip and Johannes Hahn held a joint press conference after the meeting.

Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that over the recent year and a half, the authorities of Moldova managed to impose a sustained pace of reforms, by implementing the Roadmap, agreeing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Agreement, ensuring economic growth of over 4 per cent and keeping inflation to a minimum level. "We are aware that there is still a lot to do, but we have the determination that, along with the European partners, we will carry out the reform agenda for 2017-2019," said Pavel Filip.

The Prime Minister said that the recommendations of the Venice Commission were thoroughly studied and would be taken into account as much as possible in the process of adjusting the law on the modification of the electoral system, referred to the electoral system reform. Pavel Filip stressed that the interaction with the experts of the Venice Commission and the broad consultations on that draft law would continue.

The Premier also referred to the issue of financial assistance granted to Moldova on behalf of the EU, deciding on the separate treatment of the patterns being strictly related to the political field and the aspects concerning the assistance. “The divergent views of politicians in the Republic of Moldova on various current political issues must not affect the reform process, the implementation of the Association Agreement and the modernization of the country,” said the head of the Cabinet of Ministers.

At his part, Commissioner Hahn encouraged the authorities of Moldova to take into account all recommendations of the Venice Commission. The European official also noted that progress has been made in several areas over the recent year and a half in Moldova, but further efforts were needed to fight corruption, strengthen the rule of law and Moldova’s economic development.