Vuorimaki Petteri, Chair of the Working Group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) of the EU Council, praised Moldova for the success achieved in the process of implementing reforms and voiced hope that the Government will achieve the set objectives. “We will continue to encourage Moldova’s efforts to come closer to the European Union,” the official said in a meeting of members of the COEST Group and acting Prime Minister Vlad Filat on March 21, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué from the Government, Vuorimaki Petteri said it was for the first time that the COEST Group came to Chisinau in such a large composition. This shows that the EU member states have an increased interest in strengthening the bilateral relations with Moldova.

Vlad Filat said that despite the difficult internal political situation, the authorities continue to carry out the reform agenda within the European integration process.

Referring to the objective of signing the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement, the acting Premier said that the negotiations will go on. A relevant discussion will be held during a videoconference on March 26. As to the implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan, Vlad Filat said the EU mission carried out a detailed assessment of its implementation and will present its conclusions to the European Commission in April.