Moldova’s European road does not end at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit. On the contrary, a new marathon will start after this event, within which the Moldovan government will have to show capacity to implement the initiated reforms, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said in a public debate, quoted by IPN.

The Premier underlined that the initialing of the Association Agreement with the EU will enable Moldova to apply for the status of accession candidate and then to obtain the status of EU member state. The benefits that the national economy will enjoy after the initialing of the Agreement on the Creation of a Free Trade Area will be significant. There will be created new conditions for building up the economy and the volume of trade and investments will rise.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said the agreements that are to be initialed with the EU will ensure better governance and better protection of the human rights. He assured that after the Association Agreement is signed, the EU will make effort to accelerate its ratification. The official said he is optimistic about the liberalization of the visa regime for Moldovans, while the Moldovan government will receive good news about this in Vilnius.

Pirkka Tapiola also said that Moldova will continue to receive support from the European states and it’s not right that the coming closer to the EU will lead to the destruction of sectors of the agriculture and economy. The European Union respects the market relations and offers assistance to the states that didn’t reach the standards required on the European market. Moldova will be also helped to adjust its quality standards to the European ones.