Moldova’s EU entry depends on two factors, experts say

The date when Moldova could join the European Union is determined by two factors: the climate inside the EU and Moldova’s capacity to handle its reforms, said Andrei Popov, director of the Foreign Policy Association, at a meeting of the European Reporter Network on Friday. There are many countries that offer Moldova a clear European prospect. These are the Baltic countries, Central and Eastern European states, as well as Great Britain, Sweden, and Austria. However, the political conjuncture in some European countries, in particular France, Belgium and the Netherlands, is not allowing politicians there to undertake new commitments, Popov said. These circumstances make it tougher for Moldova to approach and integrate into the European Union. No one can say for sure how things will develop in the EU. Even so, Moldova needs to carry on its reforms not just following a formal to-do list, but changing realities for the better, Popov concluded. At the same meeting, Veaceslav Dobanda, head of the European Integration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reviewed Moldova’s achievements under the Moldova-EU Action Plan, noting that they are appreciated in Brussels too. As concerns the areas in which Moldova has seen slower progress, Dobanda said these have been vaguely set out in the Plan, they cannot be measured and therefore leave room for interpretation. There might be some fields where performances have been poor, even so it is important that there is a legislative framework in Moldova that approaches European standards, he stated. Paolo Berizzi, representative of the European Commission’s delegation to Moldova, also made a review of the performances under the Action Plan. He said Moldova’s economic growth at macro level has been moderately good, the business sector has seen significant progress in what concerns adoption of laws, and so has the customs sector, said Berizzi, adding that that was his personal opinion and not of the institution he represents. The EC official went on to add that he has been satisfied with the progress concerning the holding of elections, but less with the way the election campaigns are conducted. Referring to mass-media, Berizzi said the growing number of cases where journalists are intimidated and arrested is not at all a good sign.