Pirkka Tapiola, EU Ambassador in Chisinau, thinks that the greatest success in the relations between the EU and Moldova during his tenure has been the increased openness and honesty. The liberalization of the visa regime and the Association Agreement are also big achievements. On the other hand, the diplomat is sad that reforms didn’t advance as much as they could have and that such a big bank fraud occurred. The opinions have been shared during a press club, IPN reports.
“When I came here, I was talking about Moldova as a successful country. Now, I cannot say there hasn’t been any success. The liberalization of the visa regime is definitely a success, the DCFTA and the Association Agreement, the amount of trade and that of investments are other accomplishments. But in both cases, more could have been achieved”, said Pirkka Tapiola. He regrets that so many people have to leave abroad and observed that it’s good that Moldovans have the option to travel freely, but when they have problems at home, they don’t stay to solve them.
The official admitted that during his tenure the EU had to take some tough decisions regarding the financial assistance for Moldova. The budgetary support regime has given way to project-based assistance. “It’s my person alwish that we’ll be able, after all, to resume budgetary assistance. But for that, we need better projects, better implementation, better management”, he said.
Pirkka Tapiola hoped to witness more progress in the solving of the Transnistrian conflict. “I’m glad that we found a way to facilitate commerce, without creating customs points within Moldova and by including Transnistria in the DCFTA. About 60% of Transnistrian exports go to the EU, just like on the other bank of the Nistru. If we leave politics aside, the cost of not having a reintegrated country is the same for both sides. That’s why we need political will on both sides. We tried to find solutions and we’ll continue to search”, said the official.
The EU Ambassador thinks it is easy to fall in love with Moldova, not with its politicians, but with its people, about whom one starts to care. Nonetheless, being a diplomat means keeping in mind this is not his country. “A diplomat is always a person mandated to work in a country other than their own. I am working in the interest of the European Union. The EU interests in countries like Moldova are the rule of law and improving the quality of life for the people”, he explained.
Speaking about the reform process, he noted that last year’s idea to have a roadmap for reforms was a great one. However, the focus needs to move from quantity to quality, to the implementation of reforms, the results of which should be felt by the people.
“A message I want to send to the whole of Moldovan society is about trying to find cooperation opportunities, trying to respect other people’s opinions. My message will be in Russian: Давайте жить дружно! (Let’s live in harmony!)”, Tapiola concluded, with a reference to a pacifist character from a famous Soviet cartoon.
Pirkka Tapiola became head of the EU Delegation in Moldova in 2013, replacing Dirk Schuebel. Before that, he had been an EEAS Adviser on Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The new EU Ambassador in Chisinau will be Slovak diplomat Peter Michalko.
