Three main priority areas in the cooperation between the European Union and Moldova for the period 2014-2020 focus on Police Reform, Public Administration Reform, Agriculture and Rural Development, Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said in an interview with the EU Neighborhood Info Centre, IPN reports.
The official said the relations between the EU and Moldova have been guided by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the ENP-Action Plan. Now, they will be replaced by an EU-Moldova Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and an Association Agenda.
“These sectors of intervention build upon and extend the support provided under the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI – predecessor to the ENI) 2007-2013, notably with respect to on-going support to the reform of the Justice Sector, Public Finance Management, Regional and Rural Development, and institutional capacity building of the central public administration. These are areas in which the EU Delegation has built considerable expertise and in which it can genuinely add value,” stated Pirkka Tapiola. According to him, by their horizontal nature, these priorities should enable Moldova to pursue reform and modernization efforts initiated, while contributing to rapprochement with the EU.
Pirkka Tapiola also said that it is extremely important for Moldova to continue work in such fields as independence of justice and fight against corruption. “These are issues of great interest not just for the EU, but also for the citizens of Moldova,” he stated, adding that justice is arguably one of the most crucial fields for Moldova’s future development.
A Financing Agreement for a budget support to the reform of the justice sector in Moldova of up to €60 million was signed in 2013. This milestone was the result of a long process which lasted several years, started with a gap analysis of the Moldovan justice system, the elaboration of a Reform Strategy and its approval by the Government, and the development of an Action Plan for its implementation, including budgeting the necessary funds for a midterm period.
