Communist MPs refuse to examine fulfilment of Moldova-EU Action Plan in Parliament

The Communist legislators rejected on Thursday, November 29, the proposal by MP Igor Klipii to hold parliamentary debates on the fulfilment of Moldova-EU Action Plan. Klipii argued that the debate would help President Voronin to acquire some convincing arguments before leaving for Brussels to report on the fulfilment of the Plan. After his proposal was killed by the vote of the majority faction, Klipii addressed an interpellation to Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, reminding that the deadline for fulfilling the Action Plan is about to expire, as Moldova is still dragging in implementing some of its commitments. Furthermore, Klipii said, the real state of affairs is kept secret from the relevant authorities. He requested explanations concerning the reasons for the no-fulfilment of all the commitments assumed by the Government by signing the Plan, adding that he wants a detailed answer, which would also cover the current state of relations with the EU, as well the prospects for signing an Association Agreement. Moldova signed a three-year Action Plan with the European Union in 2005. Vasile Tarlev has earlier stated that the fulfilment of the Plan should be complete by 17 November. Whereas the Moldovan authorities maintain that the Plan has been almost entirely fulfilled by now, independent experts and especially the Opposition claim that the authorities have in fact simulated the fulfilment of the plan in order to “pull the wool over Brussels’s eyes”. International experts say Moldova has taken significant steps forward in what concerns the adoption of laws, but has still much to do to implement them in practice. The areas where Moldova is said to be moving to slow are the fight against corruption, independence of the judiciary, and freedom of press.