The National Assembly of France is to vote for ratifying the Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union in several weeks, State Secretary for European Affairs of France Harlem Désir said after a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman in Chisinau, IPN reports. The French official stated that this way France will send a signal to other EU member states that haven’t yet ratified the document.

Harlem Désir is in Moldova on a visit. He discussed with Natalia Gherman the preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit that will take place in Riga this May. He said that France, both as an EU member state and at bilateral level, is ready to offer assistance to Moldova in the process of implementing the Association Agreement.

The State Secretary for European Affairs of France said the provisional implementation of the accord already brought benefits to the country, but Moldova has yet a lot to do, especially in such areas as corruption fighting and improvement of the business climate. France is ready to offer its expertise in the process of increasing transparency in the banking system.

Natalia Gherman said the preparations for the EaP Summit were the main subject discussed with the French official. They also examined the possibility of France helping Moldova implement the provisions of the Association Agreement, especially in agriculture and the phytosanitary sector. The two agreed that the Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls will pay a visit to Chisinau in the first half of this year.

As to the application for Moldova to join the EU, Natalia Gherman stated that this is a very responsible stage and the application will be filed in a period that will be identified together with the European partners.

While in Chisinau, Harlem Désir will also have meetings with the leaders of the government coalition Vlad Filat and Marian Lupu, President Nicolae Timofti and with Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici.