Brussels, 25/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle and then High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, speaking to Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Iurie Leanca on 23-24 October, reiterated the EU's commitment to initialling the association agreement at the summit in Vilnius at the end of November. Ashton wants the agreement to be signed in “autumn 2014” and, in Füle's view, “the initialling of the association agreement is an important pre-condition for signing this treaty next year, still during the mandate of the current Commission” - a mandate which ends officially on 31 October 2014.
Ashton and Füle both underlined Europe's support to Moldova in the face of pressure from Russia - without specifically naming it. Reiterating that the EU has already shown its solidarity and will continue to do so, Füle stated that, before the end of 2013, “there will be no more quotas on imports of Moldovan wine into the EU, and other similar measures are being discussed to make the exports of animal products to the EU possible”. Füle and Leanca also discussed visa liberalisation. In November, the Commission will publish its report “to lay the ground work for what is to follow”.
Füle and Ashton also reiterated the importance of continuing with reforms - particularly political and institutional reforms. “The constitutional reform, the in-depth judicial reform, the fight against corruption and the improvement of the business climate are essential and can't wait any longer”, said Füle, while Ashton hailed the recent draft law against corruption in the judicial system.
Ashton also reiterated the EU's support to Moldova's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, as well as to the political 5+2 dialogue on Transnistria (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)