On Wednesday 3 July, during her first visit to Brussels, Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu pledged to focus on the fight against corruption.
At a press briefing, together with the Commissioner for the European Neighbourhood Policy, Johannes Hahn, Mrs Sandu expressed her good intentions.
In particular, she promised that her government would "defeat the corruption that has turned Moldova into a blackspot". An announcement that satisfied the Commissioner, who believes that corruption is "probably the greatest challenge" the government will face.
The Prime Minister announced that her government wanted to rebuild democratic institutions and restore citizens' trust in the state, because these institutions and trust have been "severely damaged by mismanagement, corruption, state-supported trafficking and fraud".
According to Mrs Sandu, her country needs a "reboot". And one of the pillars to achieve this is the fight against corruption. "We must seriously investigate the misuse and mismanagement of the past, in accordance with our laws and institutions. Those responsible for stealing billions of public dollars will face justice," the Prime Minister warned.
Mrs Sandu also announced that she wanted professional and honest people in key positions in the executive branch and the judiciary and that she wanted to create a Prosecutor's Office "to investigate crime rather than encourage it". She stated that she wanted the justice sector to go hand in hand with public integrity and trust.
But the Prime Minister also warned that the "reconstruction of a state is an idealistic endeavour", which requires "serious sacrifices in the short and medium term". The government is committed to implementing far-reaching reforms, she added.
For his part, Mr Hahn supported the Commission and expressed his readiness to work with Chisinau. According to him, the priorities for reform are depoliticization and strengthening the independence of state institutions, "especially the judiciary", but also the implementation of the Association Agreement.
Substantial EU support can be quickly mobilised once the conditions are met and the government has achieved results in terms of the economy, the rule of law, judicial reforms and media plurality, he explained. Macro-financial support has been suspended since municipal elections in Chisinau were cancelled (see EUROPE 12056/15).
The Commissioner also wanted the situation in the country to improve, lamenting the fact that many Moldovans have to leave the country to work abroad.
"Moldova's European path and the Association Agreement remain the cornerstone of our efforts to build a modern country", the Prime Minister stressed, believing that one day her country will be ready to become a member of the EU.
In the meantime, Mr Hahn announced that the next EU-Moldova Association Council should be held "as soon as possible, at the latest in early autumn", which, he said, would really boost cooperation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)