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Sergiu Sarbu: European integration no way goes against good neighborhood


https://www.ipn.md/en/sergiu-sarbu-european-integration-no-way-goes-against-good-neighborhood-7965_1036968.html

Democratic MP Sergiu Sarbu said the Democratic Party (PDM) has constantly pleaded for the European integration and considers that essential steps in this regard have been taken during the last few years. The goal now is to transpose the Constitutional Court’s judgment of September 9, 2014, which says that the orientation to the European system of democratic values is a defining element of the constitutional identity of the Republic of Moldova, to the Constitution so as to eliminate any speculation about the country’s course and the split in society disappears. The MP made such statements in the public debate “Eastern model and Western model for Moldova: differences, advantages, disadvantages. Chances of “Third Way” that was staged by IPN News Agency and Radio Moldova.

Sergiu Sarbu said there are two relevant aspects. The legal aspect refers to the transposition of the Court’s decision by amending the Constitution, while the second aspect refers to the political side, which is the implementation of the European values. The European integration no way goes against good neighborhood. “We should make a distinction between being good neighbors with the neighboring states and having partnerships with the neighboring states. If we have a well-defined European orientation, this does not mean that we should not cooperate with the Russian Federation, the CIS as we have commercials relations with these,” he stated.

The MP also said that the PDM has constantly pleaded for the European integration values. The liberalization of the visa regime with the EU and the signing of the Association Agreement brought benefits to the people and will surely bring more benefits. Though some speculate about the European course, the Republic of Moldova understood that this path is irreversible when the Party of Communists ruled, when the plan of action with the EU was signed in 2005 and this course was included in the programs of all the governments since then.

According to Sergiu Sarbu, since the Association Agreement with the EU was ratified, this was 33-34% implemented in terms of policies and adjustment of the legal framework. The implementation level in the case of economic documents is higher, of 60-70%. After the signing of the Association Agreement, results were achieved especially as regards the balance of trade and the volume of exports to the EU has constantly increased, while to the CIS has constantly declined. The Agreement enabled 80% of the Moldovan products to be exported without customs duties. The relations with other states, in particular the Russian Federation, have worsened and the possibilities of exporting to the Russian market diminished owing to the bans.

The MP noted the whole political class should be modernized and made more responsible. If this unites around a national idea, Moldova will definitely advance faster on the path to better living standards.

The public debate “Eastern model and Western model for Moldova: differences, advantages, disadvantages. Chances of “Third Way” was the 77th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture by public debates” that are organized with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.