Moldovan PM says Estonia's example shows Moldova to be able to end transition from post-Soviet state to European one

Chisinau, 18 June /MOLDPRES/ - The Moldovan-Estonian relations, Moldova’s European integration and the support provided by Estonia to improve the Moldovan citizens’ living standards were discussed by Prime Minister Pavel Filip and PM of Estonia Jüri Ratas today. The Estonian official pays a visit to Chisinau on 17-19 June, at an invitation by Prime Minister Pavel Filip, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.      

PM Pavel Filip noted that this visit was a signal of the friendship between the two countries and of backing Moldova’s European integration. The prime minister congratulated his Estonian counterpart on the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of Estonia’s Independence; on this period, a democratic and modern European state has been edified. “This is what we want to achieve in Moldova as well and Estonia’s example makes us believe that our country one day can end the transition from a post-Soviet state to a really European state,” Pavel Filip said.    

In the context, the Moldovan PM thanked Estonia for the assistance for development provided to Moldova. “For 2018, the sum of financing of the bilateral projects is about one million euros, which has been happening the fourth year in a row. This is money invested in rural development, health, democracy, as well as good governance. In fact, this is money invested in the European future of Moldova,” Pavel Filip said.

PM Jüri Ratas stressed that, besides the historical connections, Moldova and Estonia both have a principal national resource – the human one. “Moldova will always be a priority country for Estonia in terms of cooperation for development. We have 18 projects underway and another ten new projects are to be initiated. Through common projects, we want to improve the living of Moldova’s citizens, services in the health sector, the digital ones, including for the business environment,” the Estonian official said.     

It is worth mentioning that, in 2017, more Moldovan companies received financial assistance on behalf of Estonia to participate in an exhibition of food products, and as a result, one of the companies started exporting to Estonia. Also, Moldovan students can benefit from scholarships at European institutions from Estonia, civil servants are educated at the Diplomatic School from this country and Moldovan servicemen are trained at the Baltic Defence College from Tartu.     

In this respect, Prime Minister Pavel Filip stressed that Moldova wants to switch from the economic model based on gross work to one based on research and development, to invest in innovations and technologies, as well as in people. In this context, the Moldovan PM appreciated the contribution of the E-Governance Academy from Estonia to the development of electronic systems in different institutions from Moldova. “We tried to reduce the bureaucracy, to diminish the number of papers and permissive acts for business, to have a strategy Digital Moldova 2020. Therefore, for me personally, as well as for the government, the IT sector is a priority and I believe that here we can and must do more, as this is the future of our country,” Pavel Filip said.   

The officials reviewed the developments in the implementation of the Association Agreement and the government’s reforms’ agenda, in order to achieve the country’s European integration goal. Pavel Filip praised the attention paid to the Eastern Partnership countries on the period when Estonia held the Presidency’s of the EU Council. “I think that everything is possible, if you have suitable people by your side, who back you. I repeatedly thank you for being with us, for support and confidence. You and other friends we have in EU make us believe that our country’s European future is possible and will become reality,” Pavel Filip said.   

“If we have succeeded, you will certainly succeed as well. You should trust you own forces and your potential. We have confidence in you and we will support you in the development of a stronger and freer society, which cannot be influenced from outside, a society which follows the democratic rules, of the rule of law state and provides all fundamental freedoms for its citizens,” Jüri Ratas added.   

Another subject of the dialogue was focused on challenges in the region and the Transnistrian conflict settlement. In this respect, the sides emphasized that Estonia was co-author of the resolution on the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Moldova, due to be considered at the UN General Assembly this week.