MOLDOVAN GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO MAKE MOLDOVA'S EURO-INTEGRATION COURSE IRREVERSIBLE - PREMIER FILIP

The Government will make its utmost to make Moldova's European choice irreversible, and to guarantee that the implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement remains priority #1 for the Moldovan authorities after the 2018 parliamentary election.

According to the governmental press service, Premier Filip made this statement at the 4th conference of the EU-RM Association Council held in Brussels on Thursday.

In his words, the open and friendly dialog with European partners is permitting to analyze the Government's successes in realization of the reforms stipulated by the Association Agreement as well as to determine spheres where extra work in needed.

An emphasis during the discussion was put on the need to continue reforms in the fields of the judiciary, mass media, struggle against corruption, money laundering, stabilization of the banking sector, and investigation of the bank fraud.

The growth of the Moldovan economy by 4.5% in 2017, of exports by 20% and of the share of exports to the European Union area up to 65% as well as other successes have permitted the Government to request higher quotas for tax-free exports of Moldovan grapes, plums and sweet cherries to European markets.

Premier Filip assured the Council that despite the election year, his Government is firmly intending to further speed up reforms.

Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, recognized the progress achieved by Moldova lately, but pointed at a number of essential fields requiring extra efforts to attain concrete results such as struggle against corruption, the banking sector, electoral legislation.

Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn also underscored that the Government of Pavel Filip has reached certain results and has launched reforms which were hard for the population to comprehend and support but which will eventually let the republic advance along the European development path.

In his words, for receiving the first tranche from the European Union's macro-financial assistance [totaling 100 million euros], Moldova has to fulfill two conditions still pending, so far: the National Integrity Organ must become fully functional, and it is necessary to find extra Budget means to make anti-corruption institutions work.

"If these two conditions are fulfilled by the end of May, then the first tranche may come in July, but if not - then only in the autumn", explained the European Commissioner.

Asked when he should be expected in Chisinau, Johannes Hahn replied that he usually visits countries where problems appear, "so if I don't come to Chisinau, this will be a good sign".