European Commission to support Chisinau in its European plans

The European Commission (EC) is willing to support Chisinau in its intention to comply with the European standards and to overcome the present situation, Paolo Berizzi, first secretary, head of the Political and Economic Department of the Delegation of the Council of Europe to Moldova told a meeting with Chisinau Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca. According to a press release from the City Hall, the European official said that the European structures want the civil servant in Chisinau to serve the interests of the citizens, as it happens in all the European cities. According to Berizzi, the role of the Chisinau Mayor and of the local public authorities on the whole in implementing the provisions of the Action Plan Moldova-EU is very important. For his part, Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca welcomed the visit of the European official to the City Hall, mentioning that this is a new stage in the dialogue between the local authorities with the Delegation of the EC. The Mayor expressed his hope that it will be managed to implement European standards in the city, by ensuring transparency in financial administration and public property management, by creating favourable conditions for the foreign investors and providing high-quality services. Referring to the organisation of the election campaign for the local general elections, which took place in June, the collocutors expressed their concern about the problems which were reported both by the national and international authorities. The problems are related to the access of candidates to media, independence of national public TV and radio stations, as well as to the electoral process. In this context, Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca assured Paolo Berizzi that in the next elections, in 2009 and 2011, the local administration will re-examine the rolls of citizens to make sure they are correct.