The Government initiated particular activities to fulfill the conditions imposed by Romania for providing the first tranche of the €150 million loan, but these are sporadic and not many of them were completed. Such a conclusion is contained in the report on the assessment of the fulfillment of the conditions of the Government of Romania by the Moldovan authorities, which was compiled by the Party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS). The party’s leader Maia Sandu, in a news conference at IPN, said most of the taken actions are formal in character and include the adoption of decisions only, without these being accompanied by authentic efforts aimed at solving the major problems faced by society.

According to Maia Sandu, the fewest accomplishments were achieved in the context of the necessity of prioritizing the implementation of the Association Agenda with the EU. “The Government of Moldova formulated its own commitments in this regard in the roadmap agreed in February 2016 and the delay in fulfilling these causes bewilderment. Given the low implementation level and the fact that the document must be carried out by end-July, we consider it is rational to insist on the meeting of all the roadmap conditions until the disbursement of the first tranche,” she stated.

The leader of the PAS noted that the governor of the National Bank of Moldova was appointed as a result of an open contest, but the fact that the selection commission included persons who are politically controlled and who do not have solid knowledge in the field undermined the credibility of this contest. The National Bank continues not to have functional bodies. The fight against corruption is formal, while the public administration reform is not a priority for the government. The communication with civil society, asked by the external partners, is simulated because the government not only once approved a number of important bills rapidly and furtively.

“We consider that external financing must be provided only when all the commitments are fulfilled. Both for the people of the Republic of Moldova and for those of Romania, it is important for Moldova to become a really democratic state, with institutions that protect the rights and contribute to the welfare of all the people and where the fight against corruption is real,” stated the politician.

Maia Sandu also said that of the things that must be done, the Government chooses to formally carry out some superficial measures and does not address the real, difficult problems, but such an approach will set off an authentic change. The people are those who will repay the loan and thus must benefit from it and from the reforms that this loan is to support. That’s why greater transparency is needed in this regard. A debate on how the Government fulfills the assumed commitments is also necessary.