European Integration Means Doing Homework - Minister

The most important accomplishment in 2005 in implementing the Action Plan Moldova-EU is the transfer of priorities and political actions of the Plan on the daily schedule of the Government and of the ministries in particular, declared the Minister of Economy and Commerce (MEC) Valeriu Lazar at the MEC hearing by the Commission of Foreign Policy and European Integration on the issue of Plan’s stipulation implementation. This objective was achieved by ensuring the compatibility between the plan and other strategic long-term planning documents, the main of which is the Economic Growth Strategy and Poverty Reduction (EGSPR). These and other documents are reflected in the activity plan of the Government, said the minister. Another accomplishment of the last year is, according to him, the fact that his colleagues from other ministries are convinced that European integration of the Republic of Moldova means “doing homework”. Referring to another accomplishments, Lazar mentioned reestablishing good relations with the international financial organisms, mentioning the agreement signed with the Paris Club and the financial program signed with the International Monetary Fund, fact that has a positive effect over the investment image of the country. “No serious investments would be possible as long as such a program does not exist”, said Lazar. Signing the agreement with IMF makes way for implementing other investment programs with private institutions, but also with other international organizations, states the minister. In the failures chapter, Lazar included the fact that the Agency for Concurrence Protection was not created, but he mentioned that it is very possible this problem will be solved in the near future. The member of the commission, Dumitru Diacov, the chairman of the Democrat Party faction, said that MEC is one of the Government’s structures which make intellectual efforts and are characterized by a good activity that contributes to creating a progress atmosphere in the Republic of Moldova. The Ministry has also an important role in implementing the Action Plan, ended Diacov. The Social Liberal Party MP referred to some deficiencies in implementing the Action Plan regarding the investment climate in the Republic of Moldova, the high quote of criminal and underground economy and as well as the hard situation in agriculture. The Action Plan Republic of Moldova-European Union was signed on February 22, 2005.