UK wants to assist Moldova in achieving its EU ambition - Geoff Hoon

The United Kingdom wants to help in developing the reform programmes to assist Moldova in achieving its ambition of one day being a member of the European Union, said Geoff Hoon, the British Minister of State for Europe, during a joint news conference with Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan. The British official stated that a large part of the discussions he had in Chisinau with Moldovan officials have focused on reforms and the European integration process of Moldova. The British Government’s stance regarding this issue is that the door to Europe should always stay open for the states that seek the EU membership. The UK wants to see a continuation of the reform process in Moldova, of a market economy and implementation of certain economic, political and social reforms that would allow Moldova to become an EU member. Andrei Stratan said that during discussions he had informed his colleague about the political achievements, reforms and Moldova’s political, economic and social progress. There were also tackled the subjects related to Moldova’s aspirations for EU integration, as well as the settlement of the problem regarding the state’s territorial reintegration. Geoff Hoon also met today with Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu. During this meeting he stated that the process of EU enlargement depends on the countries’ capacity (such as Moldova’) to carry out democratic reforms and prove in practice the attachment to the European values. He confirmed the fact that the UK will further back Moldova’s European ambition, a reason for which UK expects that internal democratic reforms occur. Geoff Hoon has been Minister of State for Europe since May 2006. Prior to this appointment Mr. Hoon was Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Defence.