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Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enragement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said the budget support and the macro-financial assistance for Moldova could be resumed in autumn on condition that all the requests for changes or improvement in a number of areas are appropriately tackled by the current Government, IPN reports.
In a news conference given in Chisinau alongside Prime Minister Maia Sandu, Johannes Hahn said he submitted a list of areas where the EU wants to see changes or improvements to ex-Premier Pavel Filip last September. “The list was only partially addressed and I expect the new Government will urgently approach these subjects. That’s why I’m confident that we will be able to resume the payments, including the budget support and the macro-financial assistance,” stated the European official.
According to Johannes Hahn, Moldova hasn’t yet fully realized the potential of the Association Agreement with the EU and of the DCFTA. The 17% rise in exports in 2017-2018 is a good rise, but more can be obtained. “I think we should focus on this and see how we can further improve people’s living conditions and narrow the gap between the level of wellbeing in the EU and Moldova. I believe this is what interests the citizens the most,” noted the official.
Asked about the influence of the EU and the U.S. and about Russia’s role in forming the government coalition in Chisinau, the European official said it was a sovereign decision taken by political leaders. “I think it is in the common interest of everyone. The EU has a major interest, but the U.S. and Russia also want Moldova to be stable and the citizens to benefit from stability in this region. It was possible to form a government that we are ready to support,” he stated.
