FREEDOM TRADE WITH EU GAVE 7 BILLION LEI TO MOLDOVA BUDGET - PETER MICHALKO

The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement [DCFTA, the essential-most component of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement] has already given 7 billion lei to the Budget of Moldova, Ambassador Peter Michalko, the Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, stated in his interview with Deutsche Welle, mentioning the advantages the EU-Moldova Association Agreement gives to this republic.

The diplomat said that in the AA framework and with the assistance of EU partners, Moldova has managed to create over 15 thousand new jobs. Thanks to various EU and European Commission programs, various kinds of assistance (financial, technical, consultative etc.) were received by more than 5 thousand local companies that have received preferential credits and grants.

Ambassador Michalko stressed yet another essential circumstance - that over the past 5 years Moldova received essential backing for consolidation of its state structures and institutions specializing in certification.

"This means that standards in Moldova will be the same as in the European Union. The level of modernization in the republic is unprecedented, which has ensured extraordinary possibilities for Moldova", said Peter Michalko.

Speaking about the governing coalition in Moldova, the EU Delegation Head underscored that the recent changes in the republic were made by its own political forces.

"The parties, which formed the governing majority, have expressed their desire to democratize Moldova and eliminate the factors inflicting damage to democracy and supremacy of law", the diplomat said and expressed hope that the efforts being made by the incumbent government will be continuing possibly longer.

Peter Michalko said that conditionality is remaining an important factor in the EU-Moldova relations.

"We will be assessing the state of things and the changes to be made from the viewpoint of standards. We will invigorate dialog with the Moldovan leadership and will be speaking of all processes taking place here. We will be honestly assessing the changes. We realize the process of changes will be long and will require hard, sometimes painful decisions that cannot be realized over a week or a month. We hope the citizens of Moldova also realize this", said Peter Michalko.

Touching on the Transnistrian conflict settlement, the diplomat said the European Union supports the negotiation process, being an active participant in it as an Observer in the 5+2 negotiation process.

"We shall continue programs aimed at building up confidence between the two parts of the country. The form of conflict settlement has been approved by the foreign ministers of all the OSCE Member countries. A solution will be based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders. The 5+2 negotiation process has to be continued in order to reach a conflict settlement", said Ambassador Peter Michalko.