Brussels, 15/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 15 February, the EU foreign affairs ministers called on the political forces in the Republic of Moldova for a constructive dialogue and to implement the necessary reforms.
“The European Union is convinced that the current difficulties can be solved only via constructive dialogue among all political forces in the country (…) Tangible results on reforms are needed to restore the trust”, the EU foreign affairs ministers state in their conclusions. Long considered as an exemplary country in the Eastern Partnership, Moldova - which enjoys a visa-free regime and an EU association agreement - is currently characterised by an unstable political environment. The new prime minister (the fifth since the start of 2015) is having to confront demonstrations from the opposition.
The Council calls for “an accelerated implementation of the association agenda”. The new government should give priority to reforms aimed at addressing the politicisation of state institutions and systemic corruption. It should also prioritise public administration reform aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, the ministers state.
The Council underlines the importance of implementing reforms that ensure the independence, effectiveness and transparency of the judicial system, and anti-corruption institutions. Similarly, Moldova must progress in reforming the financial sector. According to the EU ministers, a “thorough, impartial investigation” into cases of fraud, which affected the banking system in 2014 and led to the disappearance of nearly a billion euro, is required. “The resumption of budget support disbursements could be envisaged once political, financial and macro-economic conditions are fulfilled, including respect for budgetary oversight and transparency principles”, they also state.
A positive note for the Council is Chisinau's commitment to handle the Transnistrian settlement process as a “key priority”, as well as its interest to resume the negotiations “as soon as possible”. The EU foreign ministers also welcome the establishment of a permanent working group for cooperation between the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the People's Assembly of Gagauz, an autonomous area in southern Moldova. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)