Moldovans' interests are best served if the country continues its European integration path

The long term interests of the people of Moldova are best served if the country continues its European integration path, stated Kalman Mizsei, EU Special Representative for Moldova, when asked by Info-Prim for an opinion on the outcome of the November 28 election. “I do not have the right to evaluate results of an election except to say that I truly admire the stamina of the population that exercised its civic rights and voted in such high numbers and that the whole process was dignified and overall democratic. As Monica Macovei {(head of the European Parliament's Delegation for Moldova)} rightly noted after the elections, this makes Moldova stand out in the Eastern Partnership country community. In the CIS region, I would say, Moldova has become a model for democratic development, even though much is still to be done”, said Kalman Mizsei. Talking about the capacity of the election's outcome to secure a solution out of the political crisis and avoid a new round of elections, Kalman Mizsei said that it depends on the politicians' wisdom to negotiate the formation of the state institutions. “What can secure stability of Moldova’s democracy is the wisdom of the politicians to successfully negotiate so that the subsequent state structures can be established, of course including the person of the President. This is essential. Besides that we are convinced that the long term interests of the people of Moldova are best served if the country continues its European integration path. This country has a truly European vocation and this has to be reflected in its policies. We do follow the programs and political rhetoric of the parties, politicians attentively. We trust that the path of democratic and economic reforms as well as European integration will prevail simply because that is in the interest of the Moldovan people”, said the EU Special representative. Kalman Mizsei advocated more prudence and less populism in continuing some of the measures initiated by the Alliance government. “The current government has done many things right; the macroeconomic situation has been stabilized, and the government worked energetically with us for a deeper European integration. As to the macroeconomic situation, I would underline the importance to continue giving priority to prudence over populism. I see over and over in the countries that change from socialism to open economies that where populism takes root it can kill the economy. So, my advice is to continue this path. I also commend the way the government has worked on the Transnistrian issue and I genuinely expect this to continue. I also commend the way the government improved the country’s relations with its neighbours, particularly with Romania but there have been promising steps to improve the situation with Ukraine”, said the European official. Among the things that need to be improved after the installation of the new government, Kalman Mizsei named the internal economic regulation. “The direction (here) has been good but even more demonopolization is needed. Regulation should even more support competition and regulatory obstacles to small private business investments should be radically and effectively removed. Also, government bureaucracy needs to be reformed so that they are higher paid but more streamlined and efficient. I need to be honest: we, the EU need, in my view, also to be faster to negotiate the crucially important Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. On one hand it will improve the business regulatory environment, on the other it will attract more European investment. This is absolutely crucial, the government is doing its utmost to achieve this and I hope we will be fast and forthcoming in this important area”, stated Kalman Mizsei, Special Representative of the European Union for Moldova, in the interview given to Info-Prim Neo.