The Declaration of the Riga Summit represents a ‘reasonable compromise’ given that it was negotiated by the 28 EU member states and the six Eastern partners. For Moldova, this result is a positive one because paragraph 7 of the Declaration makes a very clear reference to the European aspirations and the European choice of the EaP countries that signed Association Agreements and reiterates that these countries share common values with the EU such as the rule of law, preeminence of the law, human rights and market economy and that the EU and these states are fully ready to promote them further, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Natalia German said shortly after the Declaration was adopted, being quoted by IPN’s correspondent in Riga.
According to Natalia Gherman, it is important that the Declaration repeatedly mentions the principle of differentiation between the EaP countries and the ‘more for more’ principle. It clearly stipulates that each EaP member state can choose its objective in relation to the EU and the European Union will analyze this objective in an individual way. Moldova should anyway complete the initiated reforms and implement all the European standards before launching the next stage in the relations with the EU – that of negotiations on membership.
The official said that Moldova’s important accomplishments, especially after the coming into force of the DCFTA, are stipulated in the Declaration, namely the considerable increase in exports to the EU. Meanwhile, the EU became the main trade partner of Moldova. The Declaration also specifies a number of mechanisms and instruments that will be available for the period after the Riga EaP Summit. These are aimed mainly at growing and strengthening SMEs. The EU will invest in creating SMEs in Moldova and other EaP countries through a specific program. The mechanisms and instruments also include financing for infrastructure-related projects and projects to ensure interconnection with the European energy market and connection to the European transport systems.
Natalia Gherman said the plan of action for implementing the Association Agreement with the EU should be assessed so as to see what was done and what wasn’t and new elements will be introduced when progress is made. “We began to put into practice the accord last year, in September 2014, and now, given that we have a functional Government and a functional Parliament, there are all the prerequisites for stepping up the implementation effort. We will be appraised when we obtain results in implementing this framework document that is very important for the country’s European course,” she stated.
The next Eastern Partnership Summit will take place in 2017 and Moldova’s delegation asked that this should be held in Chisinau. According to Natalia Gherman, the organization of an event of such a scale in Moldova’s capital will bring to our country both symbolic and substance support from the EU.
