The Moldovan authorities should find democratic methods to solve the unprecedented situation witnessed in Chisinau after the invalidation of the early mayoral elections, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Peter Michalko and other ambassadors of the EU member states in Chisinau stated in a meeting with Prime Minister Pavel Filip and members of the Cabinet on July 6. The ambassadors informed the Cabinet members about the EU’s position following the invalidation of the local elections held in Chisinau municipality.

According to a press release quoted by IPN, the EU ambassadors reiterated the messages transmitted by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in their common statement issued right after the invalidation of elections, and the concerns existing in capitals of the EU member states. They also reiterated that the decision to invalidate the elections and the way in which this was taken deprive the citizens of Chisinau of the mayor elected democratically on June 3.

The messages transmitted by the EU representatives to the Cabinet members noted that such decisions undermine the citizens’ trust in state institutions, as the European Parliament underlined in its resolution on the Republic of Moldova adopted on July 5. The ambassadors also reaffirmed the EU’s expectations that the Moldovan authorities will guarantee the independence of the judiciary in accordance with the assumed international commitments, as one of the key principles of the rule of law, a crucial element of democracy and an aspect that has been long-awaited by the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

The press release also says the EU and the EU member states will continue to very attentively follow the reform process, the functioning of state institutions in the Republic of Moldova and the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU, whose goal is to improve the living standards of the Moldovans. It was reiterated the European Commission’s announcement that the disbursement of the first tranche of the macro-financial aid package for Moldova will remain suspended until the political preconditions related to democracy, the rule of law and human rights are met.