The macro financial assistance from the European Union for Moldova is an instrument for exerting pressure for doing reforms that would bring the country closer to what the European area means. If this assistance is suspended, this would be good news for the Russian Federation because it would mean the EU’s disengagement from Moldova, MEP Andi Cristea said in an interview for the portal hotnews.ro, quoted by IPN.

The MEP said the macro-financial assistance for Moldova has been intensely discussed in the European Parliament. He witnessed the politicization of this issue because the two important political groups are in a delicate situation given that the partner parties from Moldova, the PLDM and PL, are no longer in power.

“It is important for this assistance to be approved for Moldova. It is even more important for the majority there to understand that we, the Europeans, wish them good and the imposed conditions are for the benefit of the people from Moldova. The conditionality element between the EU and Moldova appeared by force after 2015, when the budget support was cut and I think this conditionality is a good idea and should be strengthened, but I don’t think we should step onto those from Moldova as long as they respect the values in which we, the Europeans, believe,” said Andi Cristea.

He also said that the European money will be hyper-monitored and cannot reach the pockets of politicians and will go to implement projects for the citizens. Even if they vote to allot the macro-financial assistance in Strasbourg next week, the tranches to Moldova could be blocked if the conditionality elements included in the initial proposals are not met.

As to the replacement of the electoral system, Andi Cristea said the EU wants the official Chisinau to behave wisely and to follow all the recommendations formulated in the Venice Commission’s opinion and debates should be held with all the political players, the population and others so as to reach a final decision on the change in the electoral system.