Moldova is to fulfill two more conditions to be able to receive the first installment of the macro-financial assistance provided by the EU – to ensure the full functionality of the National Integrity Authority and to adopt an additional budget for the anticorruption institutions to be able to work, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn stated after the meeting of the Moldova – EU Association Council held in Brussels on May 3. According to the European official, the first installment could reach Moldova in July or in autumn, IPN reports, with reference to the Government’s press service.
Prime Minister Pavel Filip said Moldova has firm European aspirations and the reforms done by the Government should go hand in hand with European partners’ commitments to continue to offer support to the country in a number of areas. “We will do our best for the European choice of the Replica of Moldova to become really irreversible. It is important that the implementation of the Association Agreement should remain the key priority of the Government,” stated the Premier.
Pavel Filip said that the progress made by the executive in implementing the reform agenda specified in the Association Agreement and the areas where efforts are yet to be made were discussed in an open and friendly dialogue with European officials. The sides also spoke about the progress in implementing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. In 2017, the economy grew by 4.5%, while exports by almost 20%. Of all the exports, 65% go to the EU. As a result of such positive developments, the authorities asked for larger quotas on the export of table grapes, plums and cherries to the EU.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said Moldova achieved a series of results that were recognized by the EU. “Reforms were made in a number of areas, but there are key areas where more effort should be made to achieve concrete results, such as the fight against corruption, banking sector and election code,” said the EU official.
This was the fourth meeting of the Moldova – EU Association Council. The last time the Council met on March 31, 2017.
