EU WILL RESUME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MOLDOVA IN NEAREST DAYS – COMMISSIONER HAHN

The European Union has taken a decision to resume financial assistance for Moldova earlier than it was initially promised, the European mass media have reported.

According to them, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn stated in Brussels on Monday that the decision was taken at the meeting of the Council of the European Union.

“I am happy to announce today the resumption of macro-financial assistance for Moldova. In the nearest days, 14.54 million euros will be allocated for the republic. We’ve taken this decision on Monday, and it is a clear signal of the European Union’s support for Moldova and its citizens”, stated Hahn.

Speaking of furnishing for Moldova of the second tranche from the promised 100 million euros, Commissioner Hahn said this question requires further discussion. In this connection, he said, it is important to hear the IMF’s final decision, as these questions are inter-related, “but the positive information coming from Moldova has prompted me to address to colleagues concerning starting the preparation for de-blocking the funding”.

For an important-most condition for this, the EU Commissioner mentioned struggle against corruption and creation of a transparent and independent judiciary system, which must be an absolute priority for the Moldovan leadership.

Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicolae Popescu said at the subsequent news conference he held jointly with Commissioner Hahn that “the recipe of Moldova’s de-oligarchization” presupposes the creation of an independent judiciary and the appointment of an independent Prosecutor General”.

“We shall focus on a merciless struggle against corruption, particularly at the top level because the fish rots from the head, as we all know. The corruption situation in Moldova was only deteriorating last few years. We cannot tolerate this trend any longer”, stated the foreign minister.

As was already reported by Infotag, Moldovan Prime Minister Maya Sandu paid her first overseas visit to Brussels in early July. Commissioner Hahn stated then that Moldova had a hard road to make, “but the country can count on the European Union’s backing – political and financial one”. He promised then that the assistance will come to Moldova in the autumn of 2019 upon the fulfillment of a number of pre-conditions by the Government.