EU integration agenda is demanding, but partners are there to help, European official

Moldova's EU integration agenda requires a great deal of effort and time, but Moldova has its partners standing by to assist it towards its objectives, stated Lucinda Creighton, the Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office and Irish Minister for European Affairs, at a meeting with Prime Minister Vlad Filat. According to a press release from the Government, the OSCE Chair-in-Office Representative noted the progress achieved in the formal 5+2 negotiations, saying that a number of important steps have been made. Lucinda Creighton welcomed the good level of communication between the two sides, noting that significant progress can be achieved through engaging in constant discussions and building trust. The Prime Minister thanked Ireland for the support offered to Moldova, in particular in its capacity as the OSCE Chair-in-Office. Vlad Filat stressed that Chisinau's objectives in the Transnistrian settlement are very clear. “We do not have any hidden agenda and we wish to obtain in the course of these negotiations concrete results for the people and we want to make sure that their rights are respected. In our dialogue with Moscow, we have received assurances that they further support Moldova's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence”, stated Vlad Filat. The Prime Minister added that he also counts on Irish support for Moldova's EU aspirations. “Next year is a decisive year for us, as we are planning to complete, until the Eastern Partnership Summit, negotiations on the Association Agreement, the Free Trade Agreement and finalize the implementation of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization”, said Vlad Filat. Next year Ireland will hold the rotating European Union presidency.