​EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES SHOULD DEVELOP TIES WITH EU INDIVIDUALLY – NATALIA GHERMAN

The Moldovan Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman believes that Eastern Partnership countries should develop individually their partnerships with the European Union – proceeding from their national interests and results achieved on their path of integration with the EU.

Natalia Gherman stated this during her meeting with the Ambassadors of EU countries accredited in Chisinau. The meeting was organized on Thursday to discuss the results of realization of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement by this republic.

Gherman said that at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga [May 21-22], the participating countries should receive individual and differentiated approaches concerning each country’s plan.

In her words, Moldova achieved certain results in the first 5 months of AA implementation despite an election campaign and the absence of a functional parliament. Among achievements the foreign minister mentioned the harmonization of the Moldovan legislation with EU norms by more than 10%, a growth of Moldovan exports to European Union countries, linkage to the EU energy networks by means of commissioning of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline.

“The first results of the Association Agreement implementation are demonstrating the beginning of factual changes in the Republic of Moldova. They have given an impulse for continuation of reforms, in particular in the field of combating corruption, reform of the judiciary sector and banking sector”, said Natalia Gherman.

According to the ministry’s press release, the ambassadors of the EU countries urged the Moldovan authorities to invigorate their actions that would bring real fruits to Moldova citizens. The diplomats reaffirmed their governments’ further support for the modernization of Moldova.

The ministerial press service did not provide details of the ambassadors’ positions or remarks. Yet earlier, the European diplomats were quite critical in their assessments of reforms in Moldova. Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, for example, stated at a news conference earlier this month that the Moldovan authorities must undertake quick and resolute actions to maintain the pace of reforms.

Infotag’s dossier: Last month, Natalia Gherman stated for the first time that Moldova is not ready to submit in 2015 its application for receiving the status of candidate for the EU membership, though before the November 30, 2014 parliamentary elections the leaders of all the pro-European parties (Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Party, Liberal Party, Liberal Reformist Party) maintained that such application would be necessarily submitted at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, where Moldova “must receive a clear European perspective”.