Speaker asks for EU Parliament's support in negotiating new deal between Moldova and EU

Speaker Marian Lupu has asked for the European Parliament's support in negotiating a new legal arrangement between Moldova and the European Union. The request has been uttered at a meeting with Vice President of the European Parliament Marek Siwiec, on May 10 in Athens, on the occasion of the reunion of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (PA BSECO), Info-Prim Neo has learnt from a communique by the Moldovan Parliament's press unit. According to the Moldovan speaker, the new arrangement should envisage a gradual approach of Moldova to European freedoms and should contain a certain European perspective for Moldova. The two officials have tackled matters related to the cooperation relationships of the Black Sea Area countries with the EU countries. Marek Siwiec has underlined the EU Parliament's interest and availability to strengthen those relationships. The same day Marian Lupu has met the Greek speaker, Dimitrios Sioufas and has asked for Greece's backup in the dialog with the EU, including in the context of negotiating a new deal. Marian Lupu has invited his counterpart to visit Moldova officially, emphasizing that this will contribute to reaching new dynamics in the dialog between the two legislatures . The interlocutors have pleaded to start discussions on setting up a new Parliamentary Assembly, to comprise the parliaments of those 12 Black Sea Economic Cooperation countries, the legislatures of those 27 EU countries and the European Parliament. According to them, such an initiative would open a new era in the inter-parliamentary relationships, what may strengthen the European perspective of the Black Sea countries. On June 11, Moldova is to take over from Greece the rotating presidency of the PA BSECO. The 31st plenary sitting of the organization unfolds in Athens from June 9 to 11.