MEP Andi Cristea said the macro-financial assistance shows the European Union’s support for the Republic of Moldova and this money are a leverage of constructive pressure for making the government do reforms. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the MEP said the European money is intended for the people, not politicians, IPN reports.
Andi Cristea, who heads the delegation to the EU – Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, said the delay in approving the macro-financial assistance, which is promoted by the EPP and ALDE, comes with a political price that none of the parties in Chisinau, either those that are in power or those from the opposition, will be able to manage at internal and foreign levels. Several things should be remembered from the discussion about the EU’s macro-financial assistance for Moldova. The first thing is that the European Commission’s initial proposal contains the conditionality needed for the European taxpayers’ money to reach the destination, which is projects intended for the citizens, not black holes. The second thing is that all the political groups in the European Parliament, including the European Socialists, supported the introduction of this conditionality element, and the third is that the Council gave its go ahead to the Commission’s proposal before the discussion in Parliament.
Asked which changes should be promoted, Andi Cristea said it is important to focus on stability rather than on changes, at least until 2018, when parliamentary elections will be held in the Republic of Moldova. The official stated he would like to see a broad consensus in Chisinau. As regards the change in the Moldovan electoral system, Andi Cristea said the expectation is that the authors of the bill will be open for dialogue with the foreign partners and will reach a compromise supported by the population, which will be a long-term solution that will consolidate consensus in Chisinau.
The MEP said that even if the replacement of the electoral system is an internal policy issue and the EU understands this and accepts it as such, there is a common and assumed interest in the modernization and making of the Moldovan political class more responsible. The Venice Commission experts who visited Chisinau will present their report in June. The Commission analyzes the situation in Moldova and the authorities here should take the received recommendations into account.
