Prime Minister Pavel Filip has thanked Pirkka Tapiola, the outgoing Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, for the support and dedication showed to Moldova, and especially for its people, over his four-year term.

This period—says Pavel Filip—was a tumultuous one, with ups and downs, a period when Moldova faced a political, a banking and an economic crisis, but also had notable achievements like the visa-free regime with the EU and the signing of the Association Agreement.

“We greatly appreciate the fact that the European Union continued to stand by Moldova’s side, even after certain disappointing events in 2015. We appreciate that you didn’t abandon us and were there for us. Our goal is to ensure better living standards and prosperity for the people, and to ensure our country’s integration into the EU”, stated Pavel Filip.

The head of the Cabinet went on to promise that the Government will work intensely to implement the new Roadmap setting out the priorities for he second half of this year. This document contains the short-term activities proposed in the new 2017-2019 Moldova-EU Association Agenda, as well as commitments under financial assistance arrangements offered by the European Union.

The premier also talked about the Government’s broad reform agenda, which includes the reform of the central administration among other, emphasizing the importance of the macrofinancial assistance promised by the EU.

Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola encouraged the Government to further focus on advancing reforms to the benefit of the people. The EU official mentioned in particular the public administration reform, the education reform, and the vocational education system reform.

Pirkka Tapiola took over as Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova in 2013 replacing Dirk Schuebel. Pirkka Tapiola served previously as senior adviser for development issues in Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service. He will be succeeded in Moldova by the Slovak diplomat Peter Michalko.