MEP: People to feel benefits of European integration throughout negotiation process

Chisinau, 17 June. /MOLDPRES/- Negotiation process is a very good thing because it will speed up Moldova's integration into the European Union. People will feel the concrete benefits of integration throughout the negotiation process and not only at the moment of accession. Siegfried Mureșan, Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Moldova made the statement.

The official welcomed the agreement of EU ambassadors on the framework for accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine.

"The fact that, in just two years after being granted the status of candidate countries, we also have an agreement on the negotiating framework shows the importance of Moldova and Ukraine for the whole European Union. We, the European Parliament, have insisted that this framework be adopted by the end of June so that the first intergovernmental conference can take place before the autumn and we can start the work on the negotiating chapters. As Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Republic of Moldova, I assure the authorities and people of the Republic of Moldova of Parliament's full support in the accession process", said Muresan.

He said he had recently been to Chisinau, where he met President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov and Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi. The Romanian MEP said that the authorities in Chisinau are very well prepared for the negotiations.

The European Union announced late last week that it would open accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine. The first Moldova-EU Intergovernmental Conference will take place on 25 June.