“We won a first victory on the path to Europeanization, but we must realize that changes won’t be brought about overnight. The association with the EU represents a process of transforming not only the state institutions, but also our habits and mentality. We will enjoy all the necessary support on the part of the EU for the transformation process to be as swift as possible,” Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said after the signature of the Association Agreement with the European Union, IPN reports.

The Premier said that in the second half of 2015, Moldova will file an application for joining the EU and will have to convince all the 28 member states that it is eligible.

As regards the cooperation with Russia, Iurie Leanca said the provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU do not run counter to the economic and political relations with this country and the Moldovan authorities will make effort for these relations to develop further, based on mutual respect. There are no preconditions for Russia to impose new restrictions on Moldova after the signing of the Association Agreement. Russia’s concerns were discussed in two rounds of consultations with representatives of this country. Consultations will be also held with representatives of Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The Premier added that the people from the left bank of the Nistru River already benefit from the first results of the rapprochement with the EU and the number of those who want to return to Moldovan nationality has doubled. The government has a schedule regarding the country’s European integration. “We must put the Association Agreement into practice and convince the Europeans that we are good not only for making statements, but also for implementing provisions. There are also the parliamentary elections of this autumn. I’m sure that we have all the chances to stay on this road,” said Iurie Leanca.

Moldova, alongside Georgia and Ukraine, signed the Association Agreement with the EU in Brussels on June 27.