The European Union recommends the Moldovan authorities to insistently continue the reforms in a number of areas, mainly the fight against corruption. The recommendations were formulated in the ENP Country Progress Report 2012. In Chisinau, the report was presented by the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel, IPN reports.

According to the report, the Republic of Moldova made good progress in almost all areas of the Action Plan. However, in early 2013 a renewal of tensions within the ruling coalition, which led to the downfall of the Government, called political stabilization into question.

Moldova is invited to continue to advance vigorously reforms in the justice and law enforcement systems, to continue to improve and further simplify customs procedures with a view to facilitating foreign trade and reducing the risk of corruption, to prevent the resurgence of institutional deadlocks by revising its constitution, and to ensure the full application of the Antidiscrimination Law including to cases of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Another recommendation is to engage pro-actively with the Transnistrian side in view of promoting an enticing, mutually acceptable vision for a common future, and agreeing accordingly the basic parameters for a settlement, and to continue the privatization process, in particular for remaining large state-owned enterprises.

The report also says that in 2012, the Republic of Moldova continued reforms in the areas of social assistance, health and education, energy, competition and state aid as well as regulatory approximation to the EU acquis. Dirk Schuebel said that the country finalized the remaining steps under the first phase of the visa liberalization action plan. Much space for improvement remains in the areas of fighting corruption, and furthering reforms in the justice and law enforcement systems.

The European Neighborhood Policy governs the relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova. Since 2009, the EU implements the Eastern Partnership, the Eastern dimension of the ENP framework, aiming at substantially upgrading engagement with the EU's six Eastern neighbors.