In the European integration process, everything depends on the country, the implementation level of the reforms envisioned in the Association Agreement and how much the people’s lives improve, consider the ambassadors of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania in Chisinau. These believe that the Republic of Moldova made progress in the European integration process, but also witnessed delays. The diplomats noted that the Eastern Partnership offers Moldova a series of opportunities. Such opinions were stated in the public debate “Moldova after Vilnius and Riga: opportunities and challenges for the next destination”, which forms part of the series “Developing political culture by public debates” staged by IPN News Agency and Radio Moldova.
Polish ambassador Artur Michalski said that if the Republic of Moldova hadn’t signed the Association Agreement with the EU and hadn’t obtained a visa-free regime, things in the country would have been worse probably. The country started to use the benefits and instruments offered by the Eastern Partnership. Some of the people are distrustful of the EU because of the insufficient reforms in European style done in Moldova.
For her part, charge d’affaires of the Republic of Latvia in Chisinau Vita Dobele said that after Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the EU, it achieved many results, including the augmentation of exports to the EU and the possibility of travelling visa free. The Republic of Moldova is able to implement the recommendations formulated by the EU experts who scrupulously analyzed the situation in the country. Latvia will support Moldova in the reformation process.
Lithuanian ambassador Rimantas Latakas stated that the signing of the Association Agreement and the visa-free regime with the EU are Moldova’s accomplishments on its path of European integration. The Eastern Partnership offers Moldova enormous possibilities in the areas of administrative reform, fight against corruption, security and education. In the European integration process, everything is in the hands of the Republic of Moldova and its people. In Lithuania, practically everyone wanted the country to become part of the EU.
The public debate “Moldova after Vilnius and Riga: opportunities and challenges for the next destination” is the 56th installment of the series “Developing political culture by public debates” that are organized with the assistance of the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
