Moldova is a nice surprise for EU, Slovak civil society leader

"Moldova is a nice surprise for the EU because it started to advance at a high pace even if it is an unknown country that faces economic problems," Pavol Deme?, a famous representative of Slovak civil society, said in an interview for Radio Free Europe, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Pavol Deme? said the modernization of the political sector, the people's pro-European aspirations and the wish to integrate into the European area gave birth to a poweful feeling of sympathy in the European Union. "Moldova and its administration do what they should do and what the Europeans would like to see, but the reforms are implemented not because they are imposed by the European Union, but because Moldova wants to be a prosperous country. There are things that always benefit society even if the entry into the EU is not on track," the representative of Slovak civil society said. He belives that Moldova's positive image is also due to the contrast with the other six former Soviet republics included in the Eastern Partnership. The Slovak expert considers the Moldovan political leaders should not rely much on the favorable conjuncture and hope that things will develop by themselves. "It would be a misatke to believe that the officials in Brussels think only about Moldova's accession to the EU. This will happen only if the country makes progress. It is an achievable objective for Moldova that depends on its relations with the EU," Pavol Deme? said. He stressed that a first test towards the possible entry into the EU would be the implementation of the Plan of Action on the Liberalization of the Visa Regime. When Moldova is ready and proves it finished the technical preparations, the EU member countries will abolish the visa regime without delay. Pavol Deme? visited Moldova for several times. During the last ten years, he managed the operations in Central and Eastern Europe of the German fund "Marshall" - a U.S. organization that promotes cooperation between the United States and Europe.