The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced on Monday 30 September the beginning of work to update the association agenda and partnership priorities for the coming years.
“We have agreed to work on updating the Association Agenda and to define new priorities to guide the implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area in the coming years”, she announced at the end of the fifth EU-Moldova Association Council in Brussels.
The High Representative, who will visit the country on 3 October, also explained that the EU is ready to step up its financial support and advice “in response to the government's ambitious reform agenda”. She hoped that the first tranche of EU macro-financial assistance will be released “soon” (see EUROPE 12296/6), while Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu hopes that two tranches of assistance will be disbursed by the end of the year.
Ms Mogherini also insisted on the implementation of the promised reforms, in particular concerning the independence of the judiciary, the depoliticization of institutions and media plurality. According to her, the local elections on 20 October will also be an important test, demonstrating the alignment of the electoral process with international standards. Ms Sandu promised that her country would continue the reforms.
The High Representative and the Prime Minister also agreed to strengthen their cooperation on strategic communication.
Finally, the EU's support for Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for a special status for Transnistria within its internationally recognised borders was also recalled, with Ms Mogherini calling for a continuation of the recent progress achieved in the 5+2 discussions.
See the joint statement: http://bit.ly/2ovlWca (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)