The European Union didn’t set a period within which Moldova can become a member, while the reforms and processes initiated in the country are necessary for the political and economic association with the EU, the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said in the program “In Depth” on ProTV channel, IPN reports.
Pirkka Tapiola stated that the Association Agreement with the EU is an answer to a long-term political aspiration of Moldova. It will offer conditions of free trade that will generate a very competitive economy and society at European level, after they are implemented. “Within this process, we speak not about the enlargement of the European Union, but about political and economic association. The EU will open the market for the Moldovan products and will offer assistance for modernization, but everything depends on Moldova. The Association Agreement does not speak about the quality of EU member, but also does not say that this is not possible in the future. It depends on the absorption capacity of Moldova,” said the ambassador.
Moldova must implement the provisions of the Association Agreement, make progress in implementing reforms and modernize society, while the relations between Moldova and the EU will develop depending on the achieved progress. The efforts made by the government are for the people’s benefit, not for the EU’s benefit. “At a certain moment, the country’s aspirations will show where we will arrive at a particular stage. Steps were already taken, but more transparency is needed in the judicial system. The National Anticorruption Center must be able to work freely, without party constraints,” said the European official.
Pirkka Tapiola underlined that the cases of selective justice in Ukraine are a cause for concern for the EU. A number of discussions between Kiev and Brussels will be held this week. Afterward, it will be decided whether Ukraine will sign the Association Agreement with the EU or not. It is important that Ukraine respects the made commitments as regards selective justice. Even if Ukraine does not sign the agreement, Moldova, which is a neighbor of the EU, should focus on its own reforms.
