MOLDOVAN POLITICAL CLASS SHOULD RECOGNIZE CIVIL SOCIETY AS ALLY - EU DELEGATION HEAD

The political class has to recognize that the civil society is its partner and ally, which is helping in work for the benefit of citizens, maintains Ambassador Peter Michalko, Head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova.

At the Wednesday's international conference "Strengthening Civil Society in Gagauzia" in the Avdarma village, he said that a strong civil society is a key to development of a democratic state, an efficient state administration.

"The civil society is the most active part of citizens. They are initiators of positive changes, serve a watchdog in protecting rights and freedoms, draw politicians' attention to the most important problems of citizens. The EU has always supported the development of the civil society in Moldova: it allows exchanging experience between organizations from the EU and Moldova, as well as the implementation of various projects due to the financial assistance. Besides, the Civil Society Forum is a component part of our relations' structure", he said.

The diplomat expressed hope that the possibilities of the Moldovan civil society will grow in the sphere of monitoring the election process and party financing and stressed that in the context of the approaching elections, both at the all-republican level and in Gagauzia, this field will be attentively monitored by the EU.

"I hope that the interaction of state institutions and the civil society of Moldova will be developing, which will allow regaining citizens' trust and conducting of a more flexible state policies that respond to the need of citizens", Michalko said.