Prime Minister Pavel Filip, first deputy chairman of the PDM, is profoundly disappointed at the European Parliament’s resolution that calls on the European Commission to suspend any foreseen payment of macro-financial assistance and budget support to Moldova. According to the Premier, instead of being assessed through the angle of the Government’s actions and fulfilment of the commitments assumed before the EU, Moldova in this resolution is assessed only through a strictly political angle. Premier Filip assured Moldova will not experience financial problems if the EU macro-financial assistance is suspended.
In a news conference given at the PDM’s head office, the Premier said he has a feeling of responsibility before the colleagues from Parliament as he sometimes hurried them exaggeratedly to adopt particular reforms required by the EU for providing financing. He also has a feeling of guilt before the colleagues from the Cabinet who worked hard throughout this period and who have nothing to do with politics.
Pavel Filip noted he considers it is unfair to use the citizens in this political struggle. The resolution was designed to be against the citizens as some of the opposition politicians have requested the foreign partners to block financing for Moldova as from 2016 and now they seem to have obtained the blocking of the first tranche of the macro-financial aid package.
According to the Premier, this money was to go to increase the rations in kindergartens and schools and to raise the salaries of education system employees. “But we will collect more state budget revenues than planned and will complete all the initiated projects, including the salaries in education and the food rations in kindergartens and schools,” he stated.
Pavel Filip said the macro-financial assistance, together with the direct budget support, total about €34 million. He assured that Moldova does not experience financial problems and, even if the financing is stopped, this will not affect any asocial project or local public investment. The state budget revenues are now by 1.4 billion lei higher than projected.
In another development, the Premier said that after the ordinary court of law decided to not validate the early mayoral elections held in Chisinau, he was besieged with messages from those who represent the EU in Moldova, by which he was requested to intervene and change this decision. “I don’t think this matches the notion of European values. The Prime Minister cannot intervene in the activity of a court, either he like a decision or not,” he stated.
At the suggestion of the Group of the European People’s Party, the European Parliament, with 345 votes in favor, 160 abstentions and 35 votes against, adopted a resolution by which it recommends the European Commission to suspend any foreseen payments of macro-financial assistance and budget support to Moldova. The MEPs consider any decision on the future payments should be taken only after the planned parliamentary elections and on condition that these are held in accordance with the internationally recognized standards and are assessed by specialized intentional organizations.
