The European Commission is worried about the way in which the Communist authorities from Chisinau are preparing the 2009 parliamentary elections. The reaction is found in a communique issued by the Romanian MEP Titus Corlatean, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. He says the EC's attitude towards this issue has been formed, following a question of his posed to the first vice president of the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and a member of the EP's delegation for the relationships with Moldova. The Romanian MEP warned in May that the legal changes operated by the Communist majority in the Chisinau Parliament severely violate the European democratic norms and practice, especially by banning electoral alliances, by raising the electoral threshold to 6%, by banning citizens having dual citizenship to occupy public functions and to become members of the Parliament. He got a reply from the EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner confirming the concern, shared by the Council of Europe and the OSCE, with the way in which the Communist authorities from Chisinau are preparing the 2009 parliamentary elections. Ferrero-Waldner writes the modifications to the Electoral Code were discussed with the Moldovan partners in the Commission on May 27, within the EU-Moldova Cooperation Council, and at the bilateral reunion of the Commission member responsible for the neighborhood policy and external relations with President Voronin, the same day. In his capacity of first deputy president of the Legal Committee of the EP and of a member of the EP's delegation for relationships with Moldova, Titus Corlatean has stated: "I request all the EU institutions to further act in the political dialog with the Chisinau Communist authorities to adjust the electoral legislation in Moldova to the standards of the European democracy.” According to Corlatean, "Romania further remains Moldova's main backer in its efforts to approach the EU, for a future European road-map. It is essential that the 2009 elections are organized and unfold on the basis of democratic and European-type legislation, observing the rights of the opposition political parties of democratic and European orientation to have equal access to media both public and private. At the same time, the Communist authorities have to cease harassing the latter ones. The elections should take place in conditions of genuinely observing the independence of the press and the freedom of speech, and the Communist rulers' interference into the judiciary should stop," reads the communique. The next parliamentary elections are scheduled for the next spring in Moldova, as the President of the Republic is elected by the Parliament.