Moldovan foreign minister, EU commissioner discuss reforms

Chisinau, 26 November /MOLDPRES/-Deputy Prime Minister, acting Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman held a meeting with European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in Tbilisi, Georgia, today, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.

The sides broached Moldova’s internal situation and its influence on reforms in various fields. In this context, Gherman emphasized that the implementation of the EU Association Agreement was further a priority for Moldova’s government and parliament, as well as for its entire society. To prove this, Moldovan authorities adopt normative and legal drafts in various sectors provided in the agreement, despite the crisis and political instability in the country.

Officials had also touched upon the areas where Moldova is failing to register progress, such as the justice reform. The sides welcomed the current assessment mission in Moldova’s justice sector, carried out with the EU support, highlighting its importance for resetting the reform process.

Commissioner Hahn added that EU was concerned about Moldova’s internal situation, aggravated inclusively by the evolution and risks of the regional crisis. The European official noted that EU continued to be Moldova’s main development partner and back the implementation of the Association Agreement through large assistance programmes. A good example to this effect is the European Union High Level Advisors' Mission in 2010, due to be extended and consolidated in early 2016 for another two years.

The officials held their meeting in the context of the sixth informal meeting of Eastern Partnership foreign ministers.

(Editor M. Jantovan)