The Commission has resumed budget support assistance to the Republic of Moldova by disbursing €14.54 million today to support the implementation of the EU-Moldova free trade agreement, to finance vocational education trainings and to assist the implementation of the visa liberalisation action plan.
“Today’s package is a clear sign of the EU support to the Republic of Moldova and its citizens. It is also an appreciation of the steps already taken and an encouragement to the authorities to continue on this path in particular when it comes to the strengthening of the rule of law and democracy, and fight against corruption. The EU is strongly committed to supporting and accompanying the Republic of Moldova in this reform path,” commented Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
The resumption of disbursements comes after a nearly two-year period during which such payments had been put on hold because of a deterioration of the rule of law situation in the country. The recently installed government has taken important decisions, which have allowed the EU to assess that the conditions have been met to resume its budget support to the Republic of Moldova In particular, the EU recognises the following progress:
The new government has strongly expressed its commitment to implement the reform agenda as enshrined in the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. It has identified the fight against corruption as first priority of its programme.
The Parliament started working on a new legislative agenda. Some of its first decisions included the legislative initiative to cancel the previous mixed electoral system and implementing the Venice Commission recommendations. The Parliament has also set-up an investigative commission on the 2014 bank fraud and adopted decisions to help depoliticise state institutions and fight corruption.
Local elections have been set for 20 October and the new authorities are committed to ensuring they are conducted in a credible, transparent and inclusive manner.
The new government has also re-established relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On 10 July, IMF staff and Moldovan authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the fourth and fifth reviews under the IMF supported economic programme. The IMF also recognised the authorities’ progress in strengthening macro-economic policies and stressed the need to sustain the reform momentum and to take decisive steps to fight corruption.
