The Republic of Moldova will submit a membership application to the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2019, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova Marian Lupu said in the talk show “Place for dialogue” on the public station Radio Moldova, IPN reports.

The Democrats’ leader said that the Association Agreement with the EU is to be implemented in the period. “We will ask for the candidate status. Meanwhile, we will work to meet the conditions needed to receive this status. We will implement the provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU. If the Government works at the same pace as that witnessed since it was voted in, I’m sure that we will successes,” he stated.

Marian Lupu noted that the second half of 2019 was chosen because Romania will hold the presidency of the EU then. “We discussed with important representatives of Romania’s Social Democratic Party that is a big friend of the Republic of Moldova. In 2019 we will have a powerful supporter,” he stated.

He also assured that the Democratic Party will not reorient itself to the East. “The East cannot offer us those democratization and economic development conditions that are offered by the West,” said Marian Lupu.