The Moldovans can enjoy the living standards of the European Union only through the union with Romania, not by integration into the European Union, which is not possible, ex-President of Romania Traian Băsescu, the president of honor of the People’s Movement Party, stated in a news conference at IPN entitled “Objectives of the People’s Movement Party in the European Parliament and detailed plan of action of the PMP MEPs as regards the relationship with the Republic of Moldova”.
Traian Băsescu said Romania offered €100 million for reanimating schools and kindergartens and for implementing many other projects. The process of regaining Romanian nationality was made flexible and there are now almost 1 million Romanian citizens with papers in order in Moldova. Romania managed to use the opportunities offered by the EU, while Moldova failed to attract funds to improve the life of its citizens. The EU’s macro-financial assistance program for Moldova through which Moldova was to get €140 million for investment in infrastructure, water treatment stations and others is a relevant example.
The former president of Romania said initially the assistance was reduced by €40 million and was later suspended amid concerns about the rule of law and democratic backsliding in the country. The decision was taken after the European Parliament adopted a resolution critical of Moldova, saying the country became a state captured by oligarchic interests. The document also speaks about the annulment of the Chisinau mayoral elections of 2018 and the disappearance of US$ 1 billion from the banking system. The provision of macro-financial assistance to Moldova was to be decided after the parliamentary elections of 2019 on condition that these elections met the established international standards. According to the OSCE, the elections were free and fair and the assistance could be thus resumed together with the formation of the Government, but this hasn’t been yet constituted.
Another failure, according to Traian Băsescu, is the Joint Operational Program Romania- Republic of Moldova 2014-2020 for which €89.1 million was allocated, but no money of this sum was used. The Moldova – EU Association Agreement is the most important instrument for supporting the Romanians in Moldova. The signing of this document in 2014 represented the result of an effort made during ten years by him as the President of Romania within the European Council. As a MEP, he will suggest allocating funds for using the opportunities provided by the agreement in Brussels.
Romanian MP Eugen Tomac, PMP president, said that together with his colleagues, he last year managed to promote an initiative and Romania’s legislature adopted a bill on the Union Highway - Târgu Mureş – Iasi. As the project will be developed with European support, they will insist on creating preconditions for the project to be extended from Iasi to Chisinau. “We think such a project, a union highway, financed with funds from the European Union, is a realistic objective for which we should struggle. This way, we will connect the Republic of Moldova to the European Union and this objective will help a lot, from economic viewpoint, the Republic of Moldova,” stated Eugen Tomac.
The administration of the PMP urged fellow citizens in Moldova to go out and vote in the EU parliamentary election this Sunday. The Romanian politicians said the EP elections are important for Moldova as well as life in the European Union starts to influence greater the life of the Romanian citizens in Moldova.
