EU MONEY WILL COME ONLY UPON MOLDOVA’S MEETING VENICE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS – ANDY CRISTEA

Moldova may count on further funding by the European Union only if the republic fulfils Venice Commission’s recommendations, Romanian Euro-parliamentarian Andy Cristea, Co-Chairman of the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, stated at the news conference following the Committee’s 4th session held in Chisinau on Monday.

Cristea said that the decision to suspend macro-financing of Moldova, taken by the European Parliament on May 16, was a technical decision.

“What really matters are the conclusions by Venice Commission experts on the reform of electoral system in Moldova. The taking of a balanced decision by Chisinau, to proceed from the Commission’s recommendations, will permit to de-frost the macro-financial assistance that will come to Moldova without a delay”, said Andy Cristea.

In his words, the Moldovan Government and Parliament have achieved certain positive results and the situation is improving, “but we would like to see a more dynamic implementation of reforms, particularly in the banking sector, in the judiciary system and in struggle against corruption”.

Moldova’s Committee Co-Chairman Mihai Ghimpu underlined that the republic’s main success was the restoration of European partners’ trust, and that the concentration of efforts on Association Agreement implementation helped overcome the severe crisis of 2016.

“As for the bill on changing electoral system in Moldova, it is necessary to first receive the Venice Commission’s official conclusions and recommendations that will appear in June. They are very important for us”, said the Liberal Party leader.

In his words, there exist certain impediments to the country’s movement towards Europe, for instance “the strange choice made by Moldova citizens, who elected a president who is absolutely disinterested in the country’s destiny and has no plans for the future whatsoever”.

The EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee crowned their Chisinau session with a list of recommendations namely: the necessity to combat corruption at a high level; the judiciary reform (with improving transparency at decision-making and with using an efficient mechanism of selecting judgments); the adoption of a new plan of protecting human rights and media freedom; continuation of dialog with Transnistria.

The Committee positively assessed the realization of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) aimed at making the European Union Moldova’s main trade partner.

Infotag’s dossier: The EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee holds sessions twice a year – in turn in Brussels and Chisinau.