Authorities should implement Moldova-EU Action Plan not only in words but also in deeds – Romanian expert

Authorities of Moldova must pass from implementing the Action Plan Moldova-EU in words to implementing it in deeds, Vasile Puscas, former chief EU negotiator of Romania, former delegate Minister at the Ministry of European Integration says. The Romanian expert formulated this conclusion on March 7 at a roundtable, while analysing the December 2006 report on the implementation of engagements Moldova took upon itself when signing the document. According to Puscas, “if the Moldovan society wants, and authorities are sincerely determined, progress can be achieved this year, so that next year real results would be achieved”. Also, Puscas mentioned that the positive results should not be accomplished for EU’s sake, but for the sake of the citizens. According to the same source, in case there is a positive estimation of the engagements according to the plan, Moldova could shift to a more superior instrument, which can be settled as a partnership, strategic partnership etc. Puscas was asked to comment upon the recent statement of the Government from Chisinau which said that “official Bucharest’s policies threaten the sovereignty and national security of Moldova, while the decision of President Traian Basescu regarding the future European Visa Centre, managed by Romania, is considered insulting”. The cited source said that Romania has always supported Moldova without any hidden interests. According to the expert, “at the beginning of the XXI century cooperation between states and societies is carried out on the basis of calm principles and civilized dialogue”. Puscas’s visit is part of the project “Moldova-EU: the taking over of the new member sates’ experience of European integration”, conducted by the Foreign Policy Association with the support of the European Initiative Programme of Soros-Moldova Foundation that envisages the organisation of a series of visits to Chisinau of the former EU chief negotiators from the new member states with a view to facilitating the agreement and Moldova’s taking over of the experience gained by the new state members in the European integration process.