The heads of 28 district councils of Moldova express their bewilderment and disappointment at the recommendation to suspend the EU macro-financial assistance intended for the country stipulated in the resolution that was recently adopted by the European Parliament at the suggestion of leaders of Moldovan extraparliamentary opposition parties. The local elected officials signed a letter addressed to a number of European leaders, saying it is inacceptable to subject the European support, including financial one, for processes that cannot and should not be controlled by the political factor to conditionality, IPN reports.
The local elected officials say the vote of the MEPs of a political group, without a significant support on the part of the other political groups, reveals a biased positon and a superficial approach to the problem. A court decision taken legally in Chisinau should not affect the EU’s openness to the Europeanization processes taking place in Moldova. The projects that are beneficial to the Moldovan citizens, initiated with the financial support of the EU, and the efforts to change the ordinary people’s mentality and position for supporting the pro-European course are now in danger.
The signatories say some of the political leaders, even if they declare themselves pro-European, have nothing to do with the interests of the ordinary people and do not come to discuss with district heads without political or other kinds of accusations. They do not inquire about the problems faced by these and the possible solutions in the current financial situation. “The citizens expect from us good roads, water supply and sewerage systems, properly outfitted kindergartens and schools and many other things that we initiated with European funds. Such local modernization projects were launched based on the promises made by high-ranking European officials and the European aspirations you supported by coming and staying near the Moldovan politicians,” reads the letter.
The heads of the district councils of Moldova request the Europeans to analyze the created situation based on a number of opinions and positions, including of the local authorities.
The letter is addressed to the President of the European Parliament Antonio Taiani, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, leaders of the political groups of the European Parliament, Head of the European Union Delegating to the Republic of Moldova Peter Michalko, U.S. Ambassador to Moldova James Pettit, and the ambassadors of the EU member states in Chisinau.
