The new composition of the European Parliament formed after the May 26 elections will have a say as to the size of contributions provided to the Eastern Partnership countries of which Moldova forms part. At the same time, it will be harder to take decisions concerning the EaP as a result of the EP elections, said experts invited to an international conference centering on the results of the elections to the European Parliament and the process of Europeanizing the Republic of Moldova, organized by the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IRPE), IPN reports.
IPRE executive director Iulian Groza said the current period is tumultuous, but offers many opportunities. “Definitely, the European Parliament elections are very important not only for discussions inside the EU. They will also have an impact on the EU’s foreign policy on the Eastern Partnership and, we hope, on the developments in the Republic of Moldova as well,” stated Iulian Groza.
According to the organizers, the event involves experts from a number of European states, such as the Netherlands, Austria and Germany. These came to Chisinau on a fact-finding visit to familiarize themselves with the realities in the Republic of Moldova.
“The European Parliament elections will have an important impact on the EU’s relationship with the Republic of Moldova. The new composition of the European Parliament will have a say on the size of contributions offered to this region, including the Republic of Moldova. In narrower terms, given the presence of Romanians in the EP, at least these will show increased interest in the Republic of Moldova,” stated Mihai Mogîldea, associate expert of IPRE.
Attending the event, Florent Marciacq, deputy secretary general at the Austro-French Center for Rapprochement in Europe, said the European Parliament is one of the institutions that are responsible for foreign policy, respectively for the Eastern Partnership. “Given that there will be more political forces with an important weight in the European Parliament as a result of the elections – there are now four political groups that could form the new parliamentary majority – the decisions concerning the Eastern Partnership, respectively the Republic of Moldova, will be taken jointly by these forces. The negotiations on this region will be more difficult and will be influenced by the ideas promoted by each political force apart and it will be harder to reach a consensus,” noted Florent Marciacq.
Daniela Morari, secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, also referred to the importance of the EP elections for Moldova. “The administration of the European institutions will be changed and the new vision and position of the European architecture on the Eastern Partnership, implicitly on the Republic of Moldova, are important,” she stated.
According to the official, the Moldovan authorities are monitoring all the processes that take place in the European Parliament and later, seeing the results, will try to strengthen cooperation with all the EU institutions.
