The first installment of the EU macro-financial assistance of €100 million hasn’t yet reached Chisinau because the authorities haven’t met a number of conditions. The modification of the electoral legislation is one of the reasons for which the disbursement of the first installment was put off during the past year, chair of the delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets Siegfried Muresan stated in a news conference in Chisinau, IPN reports.
According to Siegfried Muresan, for the European Parliament the free elections and a multiparty system where no political player is disadvantaged are important. Only the citizens should be advantaged and they should be able to vote regardless of the place of domicile. “We do not want to suggest a voting system, but the recommendations of the Venice Commission, which is the supreme authority in electoral law issues in Europe, should be fully implemented, from A to Z,” stated the MEP.
He also said that the financing of political parties should be transparent and in line with the pays. He noted he cannot understand how a private individual can donate 20 official salaries a year in favor of a party in a country where the average income is of €2,500 a year and how the Moldovans abroad could not be provided with enough ballots to vote. “We expect the elections to be organized so that any citizen of Moldova could vote,” stated the MEP, adding the Broadcasting Code should be improved so that the citizens are informed objectively and the journalists fulfill their duty of informing correctly.
The EU in 2017-2020 intends to offer Moldova €284 to €348 million. The allocation of the money depends on Moldova’s capacity to absorb the given funds and on the way in which the imposed conditions are fulfilled, stated the MEP.
In the same news conference, chair of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee’s delegation Laima Andrikienė said the EU wants to support Moldova in the implementation of the Association Agreement, but wants to see progress in terms of democracy, the rule of law and the defense of human rights. “We want to see further increase in trade, but also better transport links and energy interconnections with the EU, to support economic and social development in Moldova, for the benefit of all citizens. Let me be clear: where there is a will to deliver on reforms, the EU, including the European Parliament, will be there to support Moldova,” stated Laima Andrikienė.
As to the elections, the MEP said time is short to deliver on commitments, to pass more necessary reforms and start implementing them. But in the end, to gain the confidence of the citizens, of voters, there needs to be visible improvements, improvements with tangible results. Elections, be it at local or national level, need to be fair and transparent. “The EU pays great attention to what the Venice Commission says about the latest reform on the mixed system. It will be no surprise to you to hear we were disappointed that some of the main recommendations of the Venice Commission were not addressed,” said Laima Andrikienė.
Later this year, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament will draw up, debate and vote on a parliamentary Report on the state of the implementation of this agreement. The visit paid by the European officials to Moldova is part of the preparation of that report.
