EU willing to increase financial support to back reforms in Moldova

Chisinau, 30 September /MOLDPRES/ - The European Union is willing to increase the financial support for backing the Moldovan cabinet’s reforms agenda; yet, it is important that Moldova fulfills the commitments taken.  High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini made statements to this effect at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Maia Sandu in Brussels today. The event was held after the fifth meeting of the Moldova – European Union Association Council.   

„Your presence here is an important sign of the importance you assign to our partnership and I assure you that EU attaches the same importance to its relations with Moldova. Today, we discussed the important reforms underway in Chisinau, to strengthen the democracy and the rule of law state. You went this way with much resolution. This is an essential way also for our partnership, so that all of us take advantages from the Association Agreement as much as possible,” Federica Mogherini said.      

The European official noted that it is important that Moldova achieves results and observes the commitments assumed. “Today, we agreed to update the association agenda and set new priorities, based on which the Association Agreement is to evolve in the next years. Our support will stay conditioned by the reforms’ progress. We resumed the payments for the budgetary support in last June. We are willing to increase the financial assistance and support in terms of consultation, in order to back the agenda of the government’s ambitious reforms. We hope that we will soon be able to release the first installment of macro-financial assistance. I think that all these represent a clear signal of the appreciation we have for the reforms you have already carried out and of our expectations concerning the future steps,” Federica Mogherini said.       

As for the general local elections, due on 20 October, Mogherini said that the polls “will be an important test for the electoral process.”   

Prime Minister Maia Sandu said that, in Brussels, the officials had discussed especially the things the cabinet managed to do during the first 100 days. “We made serious commitments of implementing all actions we have in the present agenda. These are complicated reforms; yet, at the same time, these are things expected by the citizens. The reconfirmation of the news that we can get the two installments of macro-financial assistance till the end of this year, if we manage to fulfill all commitments, is gladdening,” Maia Sandu said.     

The government today informed that Federica Mogherini would pay a visit to Chisinau in several days.