Good news for Moldova: additional support from EU
At the EU-Moldova Forum which was organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (Berlin, 22 October 2012), Stefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood delivered his opinion about the Republic of Moldova’s development and the European Union-Moldova relationship.
Present EU-Moldova relations Commissioner described as quite strong, in particular, after a successful visit of Chancellor Merkel last August; Commission President Barroso is also planning to visit Moldova before the end of 2012.
Focus on essential thingsMoldova has changed, and continues to change quickly. From an uncertain supporter of the Eastern Partnership, it has turned into its most prominent member, into a staunchly committed and reliable partner. After successfully organising the Informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in June, and the Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership in September, Moldova will host next year’s annual meeting of the Eastern Partnership’s civil society Forum.
In 2011, the EU has witnessed unprecedented consistency and speed of reforms, some truly challenging by their cost or their long-term transformative impact on Moldova’s society. When it is implemented, the EU-Moldova Association Agreement will induce a fuller reform agenda for the country. The best prospect for Moldovan citizens is a future based on the European values and standards. It will also boost mutual cooperation in foreign and security policy, help on regional issues and promote contacts between partners’ citizens in numerous fields.
EU — Moldova’s friendActive and ambitious reforms are not easy to drive, argued Commissioner Fule; reforms can be met by resistance to change in certain constituencies, and can fall short of being as comprehensive as they should be.
„It is the European Union’s role, as Moldova’s friend, to keep recalling the need to be stronger on social issues, bolder on improving the economic and investment climate, and more inclusive in the way reforms are prepared and implemented. These are objectives for the near future. It is also the European Union’s responsibility to be coherent and deliver on its commitments when the agreed conditions have been met, without holding up delivery“, said the Commissioner.
The EU-Moldova relationship is deeply transforming Moldovan society: more and more, the European values permeate the fabric of every Moldovan citizen’s thoughts and life. The adoption of the law against discrimination is an unprecedented breakthrough in the Eastern Partnership region. Another example is the recent but resolute decision to eradicate corruption and fight impunity.
EU’s contributionThe EU and the member states contribute extensively to these transformations. For the first time ever this year, the EU assistance will far exceed the symbolic threshold of ˆ100 million. Together with the Eastern Partnership Integration and Cooperation programme and macro-financial assistance disbursed last April, it will represent ˆ152 million, which makes it ˆ 41 per capita! This is an unseen level of support, and certainly the highest in the European Neighbourhood, argued the Commissioner.
He added that Moldova comes closer every day to the European Union; it makes an impression that Republic of Moldova as a prosperous state, loyal to the EU values, could be a consolidated, modernised and re-integrated entity into the European family. This assertion is solidly grounded in hard work and in pro-active diplomacy, which makes the EU-Moldova relationship a solid, reliable, efficient and beneficial partnership.
He reminded that according to the Lisbon Treaty, „any European state which respects the European values and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union“ (art. 49 TEU).
The Commissioner praised Moldovan government and its citizens, for their remarkable commitment to numerous joint initiatives, e.g. in the area of trade, visas, or political dialogue and coordination.
Prof. Dr. Eugene Eteris, from Copenhagen, 23.10.2012
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