Moldova must conduct continuous reforms in such areas like the judiciary and media, EU Commissioner

Moldova needs to conduct continuous reforms in areas like fighting corruption, the rule of the law, human rights, and freedom of press, stated EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner during a meeting with Moldovan MPs, Info-Prim reports with reference to the Parliament’s press service. “I see that Moldova has made a great deal of progress and I can really tell the difference, but there is still much to be done for all of us”, the EU official said. Benita Ferrero-Waldner informed that Moldova will be the first country to benefit from a mobility partnership as part of a pilot project under the European Neighbourhood Policy. “The new legal relations between the EU and Moldova will start up and will be based on the developments and the progress made by Moldova on its path of democratic reforms”, the EU Commissioner noted. Benita Ferrero-Waldner also reiterated the EU’s support in settling the Transnistrian conflict taking Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a basis, and expressed the readiness of the European Commission to contribute more actively in this process, including by delegating experts, and through financial and economic assistance. Speaker Marian Lupu assured the distinguished guest of the fact that Moldova will continue stepping up internal reforms. Lupu also pleaded for the idea of starting discussions for obtaining a negotiation mandate for a new legal and political agreement with the EU, once the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement expires this summer. According to Lupu, this year the Moldovan Parliament will pay increased attention to the role of monitoring the way in which the adopted legislation is enforced. The Parliament will also expand its agenda to focus more on parliamentary hearings, in particular by running such hearings during plenary sessions, the Speaker added. The meeting was attended by Iurie Rosca, Deputy Speaker and also president of the Christian Democratic People’s Party, Serafim Urecheanu, leader of the Moldova Noastra Alliance Party, and Dumitru Diacov, president of the Democratic Party. The Parliament’s press service hasn’t quoted any of them.