After the Vilnius Summit, where the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement with the EU is to be initialed, the pace of implementing reforms must be accelerated. The European MPs mustn’t have doubts when the agreement will have to be signed, as it happens with other states, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said in the program “Politica” on TV7 channel, IPN reports.

According to the Premier, immediately after the initialing of the Association Agreement, the European Commission is to carry out legal assessments and consultations, and the Moldovan Government’s duty is to make sure that the Europeans during the consultations do not have doubts that Moldova can be an ally and the reforms are done step by step. “We must not divert from our commitments. The Association Agreement means that we will join together more and more in taking actions and in implementing standards,” stated Iurie Leanca.

Asked about the embargo imposed by Russia and the possible political pressure that Russia can exert to hamper Moldova from following the course to European integration, the Prime Minister said he is holding negotiations with the European partners so as to find other export markets for the Moldovan winemakers. “I’m absolutely sure that we can find export markets, but we mustn’t lose the Russian market,” he added.

Iurie Leanca is waiting for the results of the visits to Moscow by Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar to decide the next steps. The Government will agree definite steps in this respect. As to other pressure that can be exerted by Russia, he said he does not want to make hasty conclusions. He is now collecting information about the Moldovans who were not allowed to cross the Russian border.

Moldova is to initial the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement with the EU this November. On September 10, Russia imposed a ban on the imports of Moldovan wine.