On Thursday 5 July, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced that the EU had decided to spend the disbursement of the micro-financial aid earmarked for Moldova, due to the decision of the country's justice system to invalidate the municipal elections in Chișinău (see EUROPE 12050).
“Disbursements under the macro-financial assistance programme are contingent on two things: the successful implementation of specific economic policy measures laid out in the memorandum of understanding - this we consider has been implemented - but also the fulfilment of political preconditions related to respect of democratic mechanisms, rule of law and human rights”, she told a debate in Parliament. “After the invalidation of the mayoral election, the political preconditions have not been fulfilled. In this situation, a decision was taken to put on hold the disbursement of the first macro-financial assistance transferred until political preconditions attached to our systems are met”, she announced.
The MEPs agreed with the Commission, adopting the joint resolution by the EPP, ECR Greens/EFA, ALDE and GUE/NGL groups on the political crisis in Moldova (343 votes to 35, with 160 abstentions), which calls for the payments to be suspended.
The resolution also calls for the will of the electorate to be respected and for an impartial and independent judicial system. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)