Member of the European Parliament Siegfried Muresan said the macro-financial assistance of the EU will not be disbursed until the Moldovan authorities show that they work only in the interests of the citizens. The European Council’s conclusions adopted on February 26 clearly show that Moldova has yet to take many steps to benefit from the €100 million in macro-financial assistance, the MEP said in a political press statement that is quoted by IPN.
“There are very clear technical and political conditionality elements that should be met for the first installment of this money to be disbursed. They refer to the respect for the rule of law, corruption fighting and, especially, the adjustment of the electoral legislation to the recommendations of the Venice Commission. The Republic of Moldova should meet all these conditions or the money could not be provided,” stated Siegfried Muresan.
According to the MEP, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening political association and economic integration with Moldova, but the Moldovan authorities should hasten the implementation of the reforms agreed through the Association Agreement so that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova fully enjoy the benefits of the rapprochement with the EU, such as consolidated and modernized institutions, better justice, better schools and hospitals, a more competitive economy.
“The expectations of the citizens are clear: they want independent justice and better governance. The European Union understood this and will thus use all the available instruments to make sure that the reforms expected by the people are accelerated and the results are concrete. I also want the European money to reach Chisinau, but for this to happen there should be a guarantee that this money will be used by reformed institutions that spend the money as efficiently as possible in the interests of the citizens,” stated Siegfried Muresan.
Discussing the relationship with Moldova, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union on February 26 reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening political association and economic integration between the EU and Moldova by working in close partnership, but noted that more real reforms should be done in the fields of justice, anticorruption and the economy. Ahead of the upcoming elections, the Council expresses its regret that the new electoral law does not address some of the key recommendations of the joint opinion of the Council of Europe Venice Commission and the OSCE/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, recalling that transparent, inclusive and credible elections at central and local level are of key importance.
