Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the European Union in a ceremony staged in Brussels today, June 27. Alongside Moldova, Association Agreements were also signed by the EaP members Georgia and Ukraine. “Europe is the clearest image of the life that the Moldovan citizens want and will have. For this to happen, we need to work hard, but I’m sure that we will go forward, not backward because the European Union will make us stronger,” said Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, who signed the accord on behalf of Moldova, IPN reports.
Iurie Leanca gave his speech in French, but delivered also a message in Romanian to the Moldovan people. He underlined that in this autumn’s elections, the Moldovans will have to give a decisive vote that will cement Moldova’s European road and prospect of joining the EU. “I promise you that we will follow this path till the end and will return home to Europe. Today is an important day for Moldova, which represents recognition of our efforts, but there are yet a lot of problems. We have to work hard, but things change. The road to the EU obliges us to go on, in accordance with our strategy. We must form part of the European family and everything that will be done will be aimed at modernizing Moldova,” said the Premier.
President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy said the Association Agreements signed with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on June 27 are historical, while he policies promoted to implement them will bring prosperity on the whole European continent. “The agreements are not the final basis of our cooperation. In order to profit from them, the countries will make effort to transform themselves. The EU will be on your side and will offer you the necessary political, financial and technical support. Our goal is to integrate you in the EU market, which is the largest in the word,” he stated.
The European official didn’t exclude provocations on the part of Russia against George, Moldova and Ukraine following the signing of the accords, but assured that the EU will continue to support the three states so that they cope with the challenges. “There is nothing to Russia’s detriment in this agreement and the EU is ready to commit itself to clarifying these misunderstandings with Russia so as to ensure security on our common continent,” stated Herman Van Rompuy.
For his part, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said the signing of the Association Agreements with the three states represents a historical event for the EU and for the three states apart and is a recognition of the progress made and of their determination to come closer to the EU. “The Association Agreements will enable the countries to do reforms and to join this market, but we should not have illusions. The major goal is to help these states implement reforms and achieve their ambitions and coordination on the part of the governments of the partner states is needed. No accord can substitute the administration and political will in the country,” he stated, underlining that the signature of the accord represents a new stage in the journey of the three states on the European path.
The agreements were countersigned by representatives of all the EU member states.
