“Chairs in the morning and money in the evening” as principle of new EU neighborhood policy towards Moldova

The new neighborhood policy adopted by the European Union this week outlines a new era in the relationships between the EU and countries in its neighborhood and represents a concrete response to the Arab Spring in the context of the recent events that took place in a number of neighboring countries in Southern Europe. At the same time, the countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, including Moldova, have real chances of maintaining or even increasing the EU assistance if they promote the internal reforms. The statements were made by the Head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel in a news conference, Info-Prim Neo reports. Under the new policy, in 2011-2013 the neighboring countries will benefit from additional assistance to the value of over €7 billion as grants. Two thirds of this sum will be directed to the south, while one third to the east. The money will be disbursed through a 'more funds for more reform' approach, especially for promoting internal reforms, said the European ambassador. Dirk Schuebel gave as example the mechanism for distributing the assistance through the €50 million earmarked by the EU for supporting the implementation of the reform of the legal system in Moldova. According to him, the money will be allocated only if definite results are achieved in this respect. “We planned a certain sum as budget support for the reform of justice, but this sum will be allocated only if the national strategy for the reform of the legal system is carried out. If progress is made in implementing this strategy, the financial support will be provided. The fist tranche will be disbursed in 2012. If the implementation fails, the support will also fail,” said the European official. Asked by Info-Prim Neo if the new neighborhood policy was formulated according to the call to shift EU funds from east to south, made by France, Spain and other important EU members earlier this year, Dirk Schuebel expressed his contentment that the EU managed to avoid such an approach. “The recent documents show that this dilemma was overcome. No new money was found. There were identified possibilities of moving money from one side to another and thus the east will not receive less money that the south. The money planned for Moldova will be indeed allocated if you achieve the agreed results. If the countries of Eastern Europe obtain fewer results and implement fewer reforms than the states from the south, the money will possibly go to the south. The European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have not had operations in the south and the invention is now that these banks can extend their operations into the Mediterranean region. Therefore, we are even happy that we managed to find the additional €1.2 billion from which Moldova will get a piece o the pie if it remains involved in the reformation process,” said the Head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel. The heroes of a famous Soviet novel purchased a set of chairs that was very important to them according to the principle formulated in the title of this news story.