PM says leadership to do its utmost to make Moldova's European choice really irreversible

Chisinau, 3 May /MOLDPRES/ - The Moldova – European Union Association Council today held its fourth meeting, to consider the progress made by Moldova in the implementation of the Moldova – EU Association Agreement, following the previous meeting from 31 March 2017, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

Moldova’s delegation was led by Prime Minister Pavel Filip and the meeting was chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.  

PM Pavel Filip said that it was his third participation in such a meeting, which brings Moldova closer to the political association and European integration into EU. The prime minister noted that, at an open and friendly dialogue with European officials, the sides had analyzed the progress made by the cabinet in carrying out the agenda of reforms provided for in the Association Agreement and the sectors in which efforts are still to be made. The officials discussed the continuation of the justice reform, fighting corruption and money laundering, investigating the bank fraud and stabilization of the financial and banking sector, as well as the recent developments in the mass media field.    

The sides also referred to the progress made in the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement. In 2017, the economy grew by 4.5 per cent and the exports – by almost 20 per cent. As much as 65 per cent of all exports go to the European Union. These positive developments allowed the Moldovan authorities to ask for the increase in the quotas of export in table grapes, plums and sweet cherries to the European market. As for the economic dimension, the officials reviewed also the reforms in the energy sector and the transport one.  

The EU officials welcomed the progress recently made in the Transnistrian settlement and encouraged the maintenance of the positive dynamic. The sides spoke out for strengthening of the bilateral dialogue and cooperation in the security sector, in order to enhance Moldova’s resilience to external and internal challenges.

‘’Despite all problems faced by our country and society, we continue firmly advancing on the way of political association and economic integration into EU. Although we are in an electoral year, our intention is to promote reforms in a quicker pace,’’ Pavel Filip said.  

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that Moldova had recorded a string of achievements recognized by EU. ‘’Reforms have been carried out in more sectors; yet, there are key fields in which more effort is needed to get concrete results, among which the fight against corruption, banking sector and electoral code,’’ Federica Mogherini said.  

European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn praised the work of the Moldovan government. ‘’The government worked remarkably, we should recognize this. It adopted reforms which are not backed immediately by all citizens, but which can help the country re-get on the European way,’’ the European official said.     

At the same time, Commissioner Hahn noted that, to get the first installment of the macro-financial assistance, Moldova is to fulfill another two conditions: the National Integrity Authority should become fully functional and an additional budget should be adopted, to that the anti-corruption institutions can work. Thus, the first installment might come to Moldova in next July or in autumn.

As for his potential visit to Chisinau, Commissioner Hahn said: ‘’Unfortunately, one cannot visit friends as often as he/she wants; yet, the good side is that I usually go to countries where there are big problems. So, if I do not go to Chisinau, I would say that this is a good sign; yet, as for friendship, it is not so good, so I will try to increase the number of visits to Moldova.’’  

The prime minister stressed that Moldova is a country with firm European aspirations and the reforms carried out by the government should come along with the European partners’ commitment to continue to provide support to Moldova in more sectors. ‘’We will do our utmost, so that Moldova’s European choice becomes really irreversible. It is very important that the implementation of the Association Agreement remains the priority No 1 of the government also following the parliamentary polls,’’ Pavel Filip added.