The current energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova is similar to that of 1998-1999. But then the foreign (and national) players managed to influence the development course of the Republic of Moldova ahead of the NATO Helsinki Summit of 1999, while the current intervention failed due to the European solidarity and the government’s capacity. We cannot speak about a national consensus on foreign policy, while the Moldovans are looking for the funds stolen as part of the bank fraud at a time when tens of billions of lei is daily taken out of the country, said participants in the eighth Moldovan European Integration Forum, IPN reports.
President Maia Sandu said the Association Agreement hadn’t been a serious preoccupation for the previous governments. “Even if we have enjoyed the liberalized visa regime for a period and an increasing number of national producers manage to sell products on the European market, the citizens’ European aspirations were hindered, while the implementation of the Association Agreement remains at a very low level. Currently, recovering the lost time and making significant progress in fulfilling the promises made to the citizens and also to our European partners remain our major concerns,” stated Maia Sandu.
Speaking about the current state of affairs, President Sandu said the Republic of Moldova’s position at the European and international levels is different than that at the end of last year. “We started to restore the respect for our country and our country’s image abroad. Our partners are more willing to help us as they see the people’s firm intention to clean up the state and to ensure the country’s European modernization and also our commitment to realize the people’s will,” stated the official.
In the summit titled “Relaunch and extension of the Republic of Moldova’s partnership with the European Union: opportunities, priorities and perspectives”, Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, said that effort is made to abolish the roaming charges for Moldovan phone numbers in Europe in the near future. The process of signing social assistance agreements and agreements to recognize the driver’s licenses in European countries continues. The idea of anchoring Moldova in the EU is supported by more people than 15-20 years ago.
Adjusting the Association Agreement to the current imperatives is another preoccupation of the country’s diplomatic service. Based on the desiderata of 2007, on which work had been done before the agreement was signed in 2014, new topical areas were added to the agenda. These subjects are being discussed also with the authorities of France and the Czech Republic, which will soon take over the presidency of the Council of the EU in a successive way.
Among the speakers was ex-Premier Ion Sturza. He called on the Moldovan government to develop the relationship with the EU without making much fuss, noting that the country remains depleted and poor due to corruption, being robbed continuously during many years. The authorities should explain the system cleanup methods to Brussels so that it is clear that the state is in a war with those who destroy the system and the methods should be appropriate. If we do not clean up, we will be a supplier of instability near the EU’s borders. Luc Pierre Devigne, deputy managing director of the European External Action Service, drew attention to the fact that Plahotniuc, Șor, Platon – which are featured in the Kroll report and in criminal cases – are on the outside, while Moldovan justice is unable to bring them back to the country and he agrees with this.
The Moldovan European Integration Forum is annually staged by the Foreign Policy Association, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
