MEP asks Romanian Government to back signing of a broader partnership and cooperation agreement between Moldova and EU

The Romanian MEP Titus Corlatean asks the Government of Romania to plead for the signing of a broader partnership and cooperation agreement between Moldova and the European Union by the end of this year, Amos News reports, cited by Info-Prim Neo. The given subject was discussed at the meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council. According to Corlatean, Romania must aim at obtaining a common position within the European Union so that Moldova is given a medium term for joining the EU. “The Government of Romania must back the signing of a new EU-Moldova agreement by this yearend, but the Moldovan authorities, for their part, must make considerable progress in such areas as the state of law, democracy, fundamental human rights,” the Romanian MEP said, stressing the importance of observing the right to free expression of the journalists, especially before the parliamentary elections of 2009. According to Corlatean, who is a member of the European Parliament Delegation for the Relationship EU-Moldova, it is not fair to grant Ukraine a preferential status in relation with Moldova. In an interview, the Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu said that Romania is ready to support any pro-European project, any declaration of faithfulness and intention of the Moldovan authorities designed to bring Moldova closer to the EU. “I cannot say yet that the accession to the EU is now a top priority in Chisinau,” the diplomat said. During a recent visit to Chisinau, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that the European Union will consider the possibility of signing a new agreement will Moldova after the EU-Moldova Action Plan is fully implemented. Some of the measures have not been carried out yet, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.