Moldovan PM, EU Ambassador in Chisinau, DG NEAR Director discuss European agenda before Moldova-EU Association Council

Chisinau, 18 April /MOLDPRES/ – Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, met today with EU Ambassador to Moldova, Peter Michalko, and East Coast Director, General Neighborhood General Directorate for Neighborhood and Negotiations for European Commission (DG NEAR), Lawrence Meredith, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

The parties exchanged views on recent developments in implementation of Moldova-EU Association Agreement in the context of the meeting of EU-Moldova Association Council, which will take place in Brussels on 03 May 2018.

Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, mentioned that getting closer to EU has remained a governance priority, as evidenced by increase in EU popularity among citizens. "I want the European course of Moldova to become irreversible at the end of the mandate," said Pavel Filip. He outlined that there has been all determination, both in Government and Parliament, for fulfillment of commitments assumed despite the fact that we are in an electoral year.

The Prime Minister said that the Government has continued focusing on implementation of reforms. Among them is: "little reform" in court setting concrete targets for a short period of time. "It is important to feel EU support for implementing reforms. And macrofinancial assistance and budget support programmes are very important to us," said Pavel Filip.

The European officials appreciated substantial progress made by authorities in implementation of Association Agreement and referred on the need for further efforts to meet commitments within established terms. They said they would continue to support Government in implementing reforms to raise the level of living of citizens. Peter Michalko and Lawrence Meredith also spoke on the launch, by EU support, of regional projects in Ungheni and Cahul.

Similarly, they expressed EU interest and willingness to support multiplication of Centres of Excellence in ICT in Tekwill model and in regions of Moldova. Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, welcomed the idea, stating that during his term as Minister of Information and Communication Technology he supported opening of Tekwill Centre, elaboration and promotion of Law on virtual IT parks. The head of Executive said that ICT is a future for Moldova, which provides high added value and increases investment attractiveness of Moldova.