European lawmakers encourage Moldovan cabinet to implement reforms, continue European way

Chisinau, 19 May /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Pavel Filip today had a meeting with a group of European MPs members of the Moldova- European Union Parliamentary Association Committee, on a visit to Chisinau to take part in the second meeting of the Committee, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.    

At a news briefing held after the meeting, Pavel Filip said that the discussion with the MEPs had been cordial and constructive, followed by an exchange of opinions on the course of reforms in Moldova, implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement and actions from the Roadmap on Moldova’s priority agenda.  

“The key word of the meeting was the will to modernize Moldova, will of the government, the parliamentary and the Euro-parliamentary will. Some of the results of this will are already seen, the other ones will be seen in the near future. The ministries are moving with a high speed to carry out the reforms set. And the parliamentary majority as well,” Pavel Filip said.    

In this context, the prime minister thanked the MEPs for the promotion of Moldova’s interests within the EU structures by the political groups they are members of. At the same time, Filip highly appreciated the role of the parliamentary Association Committee in exercising the parliamentary control over the enforcement of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement.  

“We appreciate a lot that Moldova remains included in the list of priority countries of the European Parliament’s programme in 2016 as well. The support provided through the concerned programme of democratic support is quite useful and will allow us improving the present formula of cooperation Government – Parliament, as well as optimizing the mechanisms of civil society’s involvement in the process of implementing the Association Agreement,” the prime minister said.   

For their part, the European MPs said that they praised the Moldovan government’s actions in implementing the commitments on the association agenda, reiterating their constant support in this effort.  

“Our message is unequivocally one of support, as the government’s task is not at all easy. In our discussion, we analyzed concrete deeds and did not discuss promises. Moldova is in process of normalization, we want the speed of this normalization increase; yet, for the moment, we are contented and I would say that Moldova is on schedule in terms of recovery of the delays triggered by the political disturbances of the 2015 year,” the co-chairman of the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, Andi Cristea, said.    

In this respect, MEP Norica Nicolai stressed the importance of political stability and the authorities’ will to implement the reforms needed and govern for the good of the citizens.  

“For me, it is important that we have the guarantee that we are in Chisinau in the presence of a government for the benefit of the citizen, not of interests groups, not of political parties. There is a coalition which backs this government and I hope in the responsibility of the political figures, in the stability of this government, no matter the electoral processes that will take place this year. The reforms are promising, realistic. We are at a beginning which must be consolidated,” Norica Nicolai said.  

The rapporteur of the European Parliament for Moldova said that the country was an important partner for EU. “We appreciate the efforts made by the current governance, they are not in a simple situation; yet, as I have said, we are partners and we have not come here as professors who teach students what to do; we are open for cooperation and we are ready to help. Certainly, we ask for the carrying out of the things promised; yet, we see a prosperous future for our cooperation,” Petras Austrevicius said.    

For his part, MEP Michał Boni emphasized that the association process was important, not only for Moldova, but also for Europe. Boni reasoned this fact, specifying that, in the long run, the strong cooperation would provide mutual advantages to Moldova and Europe, which are part of a strong global competition and a strong development.

The head of the delegation of European lawmakers also said that, on 26 September 2016, the Parliamentary Association Committee would hold a meeting in Brussels and would analyze Moldova’s progress, based on an assessment on reforms in the sectoral fields provided for in the Roadmap.   

(Editor M. Jantovan)