EU-Moldova: relations developing at full speed

European Commission

MEMO

Brussels, 23 January 2014

EU-Moldova: relations developing at full speed

During his visit to Moldova Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle i met together with Commissioner Dacian Cioloş i the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Iurie Leancă. This is what he said to the media following the meeting:

'Buna ziua, good afternoon.

This is my first visit to an Eastern Partnership country this year - and it is not by chance. Our relations are developing at full speed. Last year we made number of strides forward: we initialled the Association Agreement, lifted the quota for Moldovan wine, and started the process to lift visa requirements.

Now it is important to sustain this dynamic and use the promising potential for the benefit of the people in this country. How? By focusing on effective completion and implementation of reforms.

The integrity and independence of the state institutions needs to be fully restored and guaranteed, all the more after the political crisis of last year.

Constitutional reform, deep judicial reform, the fight against corruption and improvement of the business climate are essential. I have seen encouraging progress over the last months on some of these key issues; but much remains to be done.

We on our side remain committed to the signature of the Association Agreement, which is the blueprint for modernising Moldova with our considerable assistance.

It is very good that the text of this unique Agreement is published, also in Romanian and Russian so that all citizens, including in Transnistria, can see what this is all about.

I encourage everyone to have a look at the text to see the benefits and opportunities this agreement and closer cooperation with the EU offer to everyone here but also in the neighbourhood - contrary to some of the myths being spread around.

Multumesc frumos.'