"The European Union evaluates and appreciates each partner based on facts and achievements rather than based on statements," says EU Ambassador to Chisinau, Peter Michalko. "We have identified a strong political will in the new government to bring good results, which will be felt by the people, by the citizens, as their lives will improve. And this largely coincides with our interests and with the EU and Moldova common plan objectives”, stated the European diplomat during the TV8 show "Politica Nataliei Morari".
Peter Michalko said that the formation of the new government and the parliamentary majority was a sovereign decision which belonged to political parties. The new government has set itself the objective of radically changing the way in which Moldova is governed, which is the most important evaluation criterion. According to the ambassador, some reforms have already been carried out and some legislative provisions have been adopted in accordance with the first plan that was announced by the new government and the parliamentary majority. Also, there is a change in the way state institutions function in terms of respecting the rule of law and serving the interests of the citizens. First and foremost, these are important reforms, such as the justice system reform.
"The judiciary must be independent, the judges independent in their decisions. The Prosecutor's Office must work while respecting the rule of law, but also the rights and freedoms of citizens. Independent institutions, media regulators or the competition supervision council must properly do their job, not selectively or ignoring situations when narrow interests dominate in the society”, said the EU ambassador in Chisinau.
Peter Michalko confirmed that the field of justice in Moldova has very big problems which could have been easily observed in the past. This fact has also been criticized by international justice institutions. In his opinion, change must be significant and reform must be radical. The official added that citizens want to have equal rights, as well as to have a fair justice system.
"We understand that this reform, this change will not be simple. It is a complex process. It is about a change and an improvement in the entire top tier of the of justice system, which must be independent in a modern state. And at the same time, it has to be fair", the ambassador said. According to him, the acts of injustice must be stopped. The official highlighted that Moldova has one of highest conviction rates at the ECHR.
