Romania available to share EU integration experience with Moldova

Romania will have a new statute as of January first 2007 – as member of the EU and will offer at Moldova’s disposal its amassed experience in this respect, President of the Romanian Senate Nicolae Vacaroiu declared during his official visit to the R. Moldova. According to Vacaroiu, the fact Romania will become an EU member country doesn’t entail a complete integration into the EU. Romania needs an adaptation period, first of all economical, to match European standards. It is important that this step will signify immensely for Romania’s role in assisting the R. Moldova. The Romanian Senate President confessed that he would like Moldova to follow Romania’s path as soon as possible. This requires consistency and political will, Vacaroiu concluded. At the same time, the official stated that his visit has a precise purpose – to reactivate relations between parliaments of the two countries. According to Vacaroiu, these relations didn’t came out as expected, hence it was agreed upon a new framework intended to ensure continuity, steadiness, periodical meetings not only between presidents, but also between committees and friends groups. Should problems emerge, these ought to be discussed cards laid on the table, the Romanian official says. In turn, Moldovan Speaker Marian Lupu declared that an impressive number of issues related to developing bilateral relations was discussed at the meeting, in respect to Romania’s adhering to the EU. There were also tackled matters concerning bilateral relations between Moldova and Romania; the current state of negotiations regarding the Friendship and Co-operation Agreement, and the Borders Agreement; issues concerning Transnistria; trade regime for 2007; visa regime, etc. The visit’s agenda contains meetings with President Vladimir Voronin, PM Vasile Tarlev, and Minister of Economy and Commerce Igor Dodon.