The informative note handed over by the development partners to the Government shows that these are concerned about the worsening of the situation in Moldova as the reformation process slowed down and there is no sufficient political will in Chisinau to continue on the path of European integration and to implement the Association Agreement, Victor Chirila, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association (APE), said in an interview for the publication “Foreign policy dialogues”, quoted by IPN.
When asked if things couldn’t have developed without such a document, Victor Chirila said they could, but the situation worsened indeed and the EU decided to do its own radiography of the situation in the country and to formulate clear recommendations that lay emphasis on concrete progress. “The EU ascertains too many discussions about reforms and fewer concrete results. The justice reform is a separate case. For instance, the document makes reference to the laws designed to prevent corruption in the legal system, which were adopted in 2013, but which haven’t yet brought palpable results,” said the APE director.
Victor Chirila considers the given document is to a certain extent a warning given to the Moldovan authorities concerning the pace of reforms and the EU’s readiness to support Moldova and the current government on the path of reforms, on condition that this government and this alliance implement the recommendations that the EU formulated through its ambassadors in Chisinau.
“I doubt that Moldova will exactly implement this roadmap. On the one hand, there is no political will in Chisinau - real political will. The necessary solidarity is absent from the Alliance for European Moldova. There is no clear understanding of the situation in which we are. I refer to the Government of Moldova and Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici in particular. At least this is the perception of society now. Furthermore, I have the impression that the pro-European political class is preoccupied first of all with the own survival. The last parliamentary elections showed that the support for these parties has declined,” said Victor Chirila.
He also said that the financial crisis generated by the disappearance of €1 billion from Moldova highlighted the political crisis. That’s why the ruling pro-European parties are now not interested in doing profound reforms. “In fact, we can even say that they are afraid of profound reforms because these could undermine their authority in Moldova even more, as they imply certain sacrifices. The current political class is not yet ready to make the sacrifices asked by society and required by the reforms agreed with the EU,” stated the foreign policy expert.
Victor Chirila noted that this document should be the work program of the current and future governments because it places emphasis on real reforms that should convince society and the European partners that qualitative changes are taking place in Moldova, which can be felt at internal level and by the partners that pledged to support these reforms financially, politically and technically. “I think this is not only a roadmap for the current government, but also a warning or even an ultimatum for the current political class of Moldova regarding the necessity of stimulating reforms. Otherwise, our relationship with the EU could be undermined and we could remain in Brussels’ disgrace for many years on,” he said.
At the beginning of March, Moldova’s development partners transmitted an information document with 29 policy notes concerning aspects of the country’s development, including in such areas as energy, justice and police reform, economy and banking as well as civil society, to Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici. The partners expressed their hope that the Government will do the initiated reforms as soon as possible so as to make progress on the path of European integration.
