Brussels, 04/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 3 October, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle called on the Republic of Moldova to tackle - “without delay” - the root causes that led to political instability at the beginning of the year. “Moldova should tackle these causes without delay, in the political as well as in the institutional spheres. Constitutional reform, deep judicial reform, the fight against corruption and improvement of the business climate (…) cannot wait any longer”, Füle stated at the end of his meeting with Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca in Chisinau. He recalled the “considerable means” that the EU provides to help implement these reforms.
Füle spoke about the relations between the EU and Moldova. “Moldova's citizens - on both sides of the Nistru - should know more about the benefits of EU-Moldova cooperation and the future association agreement. These benefits are real and concrete (lower prices, better quality, and more jobs)”, he said. Reiterating that the association agreement could be initialled at the Eastern Partnership summit in November, he said that the EU was working hard for the agreement to be ready for signing next year, as soon as the technical requirements are completed. Füle also said that the next Commission report on the action plan for Moldova's visa liberalisation will be published in November.
In the face of pressure from Russia, Füle confirmed that where this pressure is brought to bear, the EU will stand by Moldova, and he gave the example of the end of quotas on imports of Moldovan wine to the EU by the end of 2013.
Progressing on the conflict in Transnistria. On the issue of Transnistria, Füle stated that with the technical support of the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), “we are ready to continue to help shape and implement any agreement that will ease the lives of the citizens of your country - on both sides of the Nistru river”. He reiterated the EU's support for Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Füle encouraged Leanca and the leader of Transnistria, Evgueni Chevtchouk, “to take forward the constructive spirit” of their first encounter on 30 September, “to work together to defuse tensions on the ground and deliver tangible results to the people”.
At the same time, a meeting of the 5+2 (Moldova, Transnistria, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and the USA and EU) was taking place in Brussels on 3 October. This meeting essentially focused on issues of freedom of movement, and simplification of administrative barriers for the movement of people and goods on both sides of the Nistru river. The implementation of the decisions on environmental issues and the sustainable use of natural resources and on the on the dismantling of the cable car between the towns of Rybnitsa and Rezina were also discussed. The next meeting will take place in Kiev (Ukraine) on 25-26 November. (CG/transl.fl)