Moldova ready to switch to second phase of visa liberalization plan

The European Commission should recommend Moldova to shift to the second phase of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization with the EU, consider foreign policy experts. According to them, Moldova fulfilled 76% of the measures defined in the Action Plan and another 10% of the measures are close to being implemented, Info-Prim Neo reports. Cristian Ghinea, director of the Romanian Center for European Policies, said during press debates that the first phase of the Action Plan includes the adoption of laws, while the second stage – the implementation of laws. “We are close to the completion of the first phase and we strongly recommend the European Commission to suggest switching to the second phase of the Plan. We also recommend the Government of Moldova to become involved now, before the European Parliament, to have a comprehensive discussion and to present Moldova’s case in the European Parliament,” said the expert. According to him, the measures included in the Plan were divided into four blocks that fall into 163 subcategories. In general, Moldova fulfilled 76% of the measures described in the Plan. The fourth block that concerns nondiscrimination and corruption is the worst-implemented one. “Our recommendation is to switch to the second phase without passing this law (the Law on the Equality of Chances - e.n.) because there are many other very important reforms that stagnate, as for example the reform of the Ministry of the Interior, which is a very difficult one. It may stop if the second phase does not start to be implemented. The problem of corruption is somehow left aside,” said Cristian Ghinea, adding that Moldova lags behind in implementing the strategy for reforming the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crime (CCCECC) and in creating the National Integrity Commission. “The delay is inexplicable. The overdue implementation of the CCCEC strategy is the Government’s fault, while the setting up of the Commission is within the Parliament’s remit. But the absence of this Commission does not hamper the switchover to the second phase of the Plan. Most of the measures were fulfilled. Within the second phase, the European Commission will continue to make assessments,” stated Cristian Ghinea. The executive director of the Foreign Policy Association Victor Chirila said the EU should take the decision to shift to the second phase of the Action Plan because considerable progress was made and many things were done. “This progress is more important than the lack of consensus about the antidiscrimination law. The EU will affect its image before the pro-European citizens who do not agree with this law if it makes this subject an insurmountable condition. I think a more intelligent position is needed,” he stressed. The experts said the implementation of the first phase of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization lasted for a year and a half.