Nicu Popescu: Justice and freedom of press in Moldova are as far from meeting European standards as 5 years ago

The Republic of Moldova has made progress in carrying out economic reforms and in managing the borders, yet this is not the case of the judiciary and freedom of press. These fields are as far from meeting the European criteria as they were four or five years ago, analyst Nicu Popescu, research fellow at the London-based European Council on Foreign Relations told Info-Prim Neo. Commenting on the results of the eighth meeting of the Moldova-EU Co-operation Committee, Nicu Popescu remarked that Hilde Hardeman, who co-chaired the meeting, put it very clearly, but in a diplomatic manner, that Moldova has seen more progress in adopting laws rather than in implementing them. Moldova has still a long way to go to close the gap between lawmaking and pro-European statements on the one hand and political realities on the other hand. The analyst says it is good that the reforms in Moldova are encouraged, but we must admit that some of the ministries and governmental authorities are lagging behind the commitments under the Moldova-EU Action Plan, and this fact affects the image of the Government. He also added that one cannot make responsible the Ministry of foreign affairs or economy for lack of media freedom. While much work has been done to fulfil the Moldova-EU Action Plan in the field of legislation, more work and activities are needed to make sure that this legislation is put into practice, so that every citizen of Moldova can feel in his daily life the results of the reforms under the Plan, said Hilde Hardeman, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s External Relations Directorate-General, upon conclusion of the eighth meeting of the Moldova-EU Co-operation Committee last week. Speaking about the independence and efficiency of the judiciary and freedom of press in Moldova, Ms Hardeman said that important legislative steps have been taken in these fields as well, but this process always takes time and it can never be finished.