Moldova is a nice surprise for EU, Slovak civil society leader
"Moldova is a nice surprise for the EU because it started to advance at
a high pace even if it is an unknown country that faces economic
problems," Pavol Deme?, a famous representative of Slovak civil society,
said in an interview for Radio Free Europe, quoted by Info-Prim Neo.
Pavol Deme? said the modernization of the political sector, the people's
pro-European aspirations and the wish to integrate into the European
area gave birth to a poweful feeling of sympathy in the European Union.
"Moldova and its administration do what they should do and what the
Europeans would like to see, but the reforms are implemented not because
they are imposed by the European Union, but because Moldova wants to be
a prosperous country. There are things that always benefit society even
if the entry into the EU is not on track," the representative of Slovak
civil society said.
He belives that Moldova's positive image is also due to the contrast
with the other six former Soviet republics included in the Eastern
Partnership.
The Slovak expert considers the Moldovan political leaders should not
rely much on the favorable conjuncture and hope that things will develop
by themselves. "It would be a misatke to believe that the officials in
Brussels think only about Moldova's accession to the EU. This will
happen only if the country makes progress. It is an achievable objective
for Moldova that depends on its relations with the EU," Pavol Deme?
said.
He stressed that a first test towards the possible entry into the EU
would be the implementation of the Plan of Action on the Liberalization
of the Visa Regime. When Moldova is ready and proves it finished the
technical preparations, the EU member countries will abolish the visa
regime without delay.
Pavol Deme? visited Moldova for several times. During the last ten
years, he managed the operations in Central and Eastern Europe of the
German fund "Marshall" - a U.S. organization that promotes cooperation
between the United States and Europe.