EU Supports the Republic of Moldova

The European Union has reiterated its readiness to support the Republic of Moldova

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Bogdan Matei, 20.05.2016, 13:41

In 2014, the Republic of Moldova was unanimously described as the best-performing nation in the Eastern Partnership striving to implement a reform package through which Brussels has been trying to bring the former soviet states up to the Western standards in terms of democracy, prosperity and legislation. The reforms, convincingly promoted by the coalition government in Chisinau headed by Iurie Leanca, were at that time validated through the conclusion of Free Trade and Association agreements.

We recall that later on that year, the government parties — the Liberal-Democratic Party, the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party won the legislative elections with a significant margin against the pro-Russian socialists and communists. The winners however proved unable to manage their victory.

In a year and a half, no less than seven politicians had to step down from the position of Prime Minister, as they either failed to obtain the investiture vote, or they gave up appearing before the deputies together with their virtual executive teams. Meanwhile, the opposition kept pointing the finger at the corruption of an administration during whose mandate, one billion dollars in bank deposits, which accounted for 15 % of the country’s GDP, had vanished into thin air.

This prolonged agony ended with the investiture on January 20th of a self-proclaimed pro-European government, headed by Pavel Filip, which benefited from the votes of a heterogeneous majority, ranging from the Liberals, promoters of the reunification with Romania, to the former communists who saw an over-night conversion to social democracy.

On Thursday, Brussels again voiced readiness to support the Republic of Moldova on condition that it continued the reform process. But Europe is waiting for deeds not words, members of the EU – the Republic of Moldova Parliamentary Committee have cautioned during the meeting in Chisinau with Prime Minister Pavel Filip.

According to Radio Romania correspondents, they insisted for the completion until July 31st of a roadmap agreed upon with the Association Council in March, laying emphasis on quality reforms.

Co-chair of the aforementioned committee MEP Andi Cristea says: “The Republic of Moldova’s government is in a process of regaining trust. I believe the Republic of Moldova has eventually got a stable government, something the EU has been waiting for. We’d like to have here a serious interlocutor with a lot of political will and I believe that all these things are real at this moment.”

In turn, Prime Minister Vlad Filat says: “Part of the results of this political will are already visible and other results will become visible in time. Ministers have gone into high gear and so has the Parliament majority in order to accomplish the proposed reforms.”

Otherwise, according to a synthesis carried out by a group of NGOs in Chisinau, although pending issues from last year have been solved, only 50% of the reform plan has been accomplished which means the authorities may run the risk of not being able to complete the reform plan this year either.