Brussels, 12/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 12 June, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the Republic of Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca signed four financing agreements worth a total of €53 million.
Of this sum, €21 million will be used as budgetary support to ensure implementation of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan. Since 28 April 2014, Moldovan citizens who possess a biometric passport can travel visa-free in the European Union and Schengen area. The EU will also bring €13 million for the economic stimulation of rural areas, €10 million for reform of the energy sector and €9.46 million for the development of renewable energy and biomass projects. According to the European Commission, the funding of these last two areas will support the diversification of energy supply in the country, with a wider use biomass installations and the construction of new gas inter-connections with Romania.
In Barroso's opinion, these agreements are a “clear sign of our commitment to Moldova (…) these are not the usual political promises. This is very concrete solidarity of the European Union.” In 2014, Moldova is due to receive €131 million of assistance from the EU, including an exceptional programme of €30 million to help the government and companies prepare for the deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement (DCFTA) and facilitate Moldova's integration into the EU market.
The EU and Moldova are due to sign their association agreement, including this free-trade area, in Brussels on 27 June. Barroso moreover called on Russia not to take “punitive measures further to the upcoming signature and implementation of the agreement with Moldova”. “There is no economic reason nor legal justification for such behaviour”, he said. This summer, Russia placed an embargo on Moldovan wine.
Barroso asked the Moldovan authorities to continue the reforms - particularly on the fight against corruption, the independence and better functioning of the judicial system, and the transparency of the banking sector.
Barroso also announced that, following Leanca's request on 15 May to increase the export quotas for some Moldovan fruit and vegetables, the export quotas for some of these will double. (CG)