European experts assess costs of laws under EU-Moldova Action Plan

Two European experts recently visited Chisinau to assess the costs necessary for implementing the laws adopted under the EU-Moldova Action Plan, Info-Prim Neo reports. “All these adjustments imply costs. Now we have an understanding of these costs. The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to provide, within 10 days, planning options for this year and next year of what amounts will be possible to obtain from our national budget and what should be sought from international sources”, said Iurie Leanca, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, after a meeting of the European Integration Commission on Friday. Leanca said that now all the efforts are directed at implementing the adopted laws. “There is a lot to be done. There is a set of institutional adjustment measures that need to be implemented. Most of the adopted laws provide for the creation of enforcement mechanisms”, said Iurie Leanca. He added that the first package of secondary legislation documents that will be adjusted are related to the biometric passports, and next week the relevant authorities will develop a precise timetable of legislative adjustments. Also at the Friday's meeting, the European Integration Commission approved the guidelines to be used by the Moldovan negotiators at the second round of talks on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, to be held during June 11-15. This round will focus on the negotiation of legal matters. The talks on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU include a total of 6 rounds, which are expected to be completed by October 2013. According to Iurie Leanca, all Moldova's commitments pursuant to the first round, which was held in March, were fulfilled.