Brussels, 14/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 14 June, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle and Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca signed two financing agreements totalling €90 million to help justice reform and implementation of the EU-Moldova agreements. The EU will bring sector budget support to help Moldova's justice sector reform strategy. This support should help “build an accessible, efficient, independent, transparent and professional justice sector, with high public accountability and consistent with European standards, in order to ensure the rule of law and protection of human rights”, Füle stated. The €30 million framework programme will support the preparation, negotiation and implementation of the new agreements between the EU and Moldova - including the deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement, and Chisinau's participation in the European seventh framework programme.
At their meeting, Füle and Leanca also agreed on the EU-Moldova agenda. Füle said again that he would like the new coalition to work hard to really tackle the issues raised during the recent political crisis - including the independence of institutions, the fight against corruption at all levels, and the follow-up to the media situation because it is in the interest of Moldova's democracy that the media landscape is pluralistic, diversified and of high quality. Füle stressed that the government must make every effort to ensure political inclusiveness of the decision-making process.
Leanca stressed the need for political non-interference in the institutions, to fight against corruption, and also to develop the business climate and create employment. He said they must learn the lessons from the mistakes they made before, and why a political crisis was possible. He also said that Chisinau's fundamental objective - be it in terms of foreign policy or domestic policy - is “European integration”. “The ultimate goal is accession”, he said.
During another meeting, Leanca and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso expressed their satisfaction at the substantial progress in the negotiations for an association agreement, including a full and comprehensive free-trade area. Barroso said that this constitutes a major step forwards on the path to the Eastern Partnership summit.
An EU-Moldova Cooperation Council will be held in Luxembourg on 25 June. (CG/transl.fl)