Members of European Commission and of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, headed respectively by President Barroso and Prime Minister Leanca, met on 15 May in Brussels. They discussed the state of play with EU-Moldovan relations, the Republic of Moldova's domestic and security situation, energy relations and the wider regional situation.
Yesterday´s unprecedented meeting stands out as a symbol for the excellent and comprehensive quality of EU-Moldovan relations, which have grown constantly closer in the last years. The EU and the Republic of Moldova reaffirmed their determined commitment to opening up a new chapter of their bilateral relations by swiftly signing the Association Agreement including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. The Republic of Moldova underlined that the Association Agreement was not the final goal in their mutual cooperation. Both sides welcomed the recent lifting of the visa requirement for Moldovan citizens in the Schengen area which marked an important and tangible step of bringing the EU and Moldova and in particular their citizens closer to each other.
The European Commission acknowledged that the Republic of Moldova as a European country shared a common history and common values with the EU. It stated that the Republic of Moldova's efforts to implement these values make it an important partner for the EU to improve stability and economic prosperity in the region. The European Commission reaffirmed the EU´s strong support for the Republic of Moldova´s democratic choice to move closer to the European Union and acknowledged the European aspirations of the Republic of Moldova.
At the meeting, the European Commission took note of the remarkable progress in the reform agenda the Republic of Moldova has been making over the past few years. The Republic of Moldova and the EU agreed to continue the implementation of further essential reforms, in particular to prevent and fight corruption, including high-level one, reform the justice sector and improve the business and investment climate.
The European Commission reiterated its support for the Republic of Moldova´s sovereignty and territorial integrity inside its internationally recognized borders. The EU and the Republic of Moldova stressed the importance to advance negotiations in the 5+2-format towards a solution of the Transnistrian conflict that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova with a special status for Transnistria.
Both sides noted the importance of close cooperation on energy security in the framework of both the Eastern Partnership and the Energy Community. They welcomed the good cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Romania concerning the implementation of common energy projects and underlined that these were important to make energy supplies more secure and to extend the advantages of the internal market. The Republic of Moldova thanked the EU for the considerable technical and financial support of its energy sector.
The EU and the Republic of Moldova took note that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have benefitted from the enhanced transport connections between the EU and their country under the Aviation Agreement signed in 2012. Further to being a trade and tourism facilitator, the Agreement had also brought additional safety to the Moldovan aviation and increased the number of passengers travelling to the EU by air. Moldova continues to benefit from the technical assistance provided by the EU to implement the EU aviation legislation.
At the meeting, the Republic of Moldova and the European Commission signed a EUR 25 million financing agreement to support the modernisation of the Republic of Moldova's vocational and education training system. The EU and the Republic of Moldova welcomed that only recently an additional package of assistance worth EUR 30 million had been adopted under the more-for-more principle to assist in preparing for the future Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, thereby complementing the considerable EU technical assistance to the Republic of Moldova (over 100 million EUR in 2014).
The sides agreed to maintain close interaction and effective coordination with a view of further deepening the Republic of Moldova's political association and economic integration with the EU.
Remarks by President Barroso following the meeting between the European Commission and the Government of the Republic of Moldova
Brussels, 15 May 2014
Prime Minister,
First of all let me thank you very much for coming to Brussels, I believe it was a really important meeting, the one we had, but also the possibility to have a meeting between the government of Moldova and the European Commission, which is, in fact, to some extent the government of Europe.
Today's meeting is a testimony of the excellent quality of the EU-Moldovan relations and a concrete sign of our commitment to the Republic of Moldova, a modern, united and stable Moldova.
Today we have confirmed our joint willingness to opening up a new chapter of our bilateral relations by signing on 27 June the Association Agreement initialled in Vilnius end of last year.
This Association Agreement is about deepening democracy, improving governance, and ensuring the rule of law and ensuring also fundamental freedoms. It is a major instrument to support the transformation process in the Republic of Moldova.
The Agreement is also about transforming the economy, opening up markets, creating a better business environment and providing the economic means to build a prosperous future for all Moldovan citizens. And I repeat that all Moldovan citizens stand to gain from this agreement.
But we are not waiting for the signature of the Agreement to assist and support Moldova in its reform process. Only this year we have made available €131 million euros in technical assistance.
As recently as this month we have adopted an additional €30 million package to assist the Republic of Moldova in the preparation for the future deep and comprehensive free trade area foreseen by the Association Agreement. As from last September we have unilaterally granted full access for Moldovan wines to the European market. And I can announce today that I have informed Prime Minister Leancă that we respond positively to Moldova's request to increase their contingent on exports for some fruits and vegetables. We will now table a proposal to our Member States. I think this is a concrete sign of solidarity and I know that this is important namely for small farmers in Moldova.
And, as you just witnessed, the Prime Minister and I signed a financing agreement to support the Republic of Moldova's vocational and education training system worth €35 million.
Let me point out that Moldova has already made considerable progress in its reform agenda.
Today, we have agreed to continue the implementation of further essential reforms as set out in our joint action plan, in particular to fight corruption, enforce and modernise the justice system and improve the business and investment climate.
And I have congratulated the Prime Minister on a very important success – namely, the achievement of visa liberalisation. In very practical terms this means that Moldovans are the first among over 175 million citizens in the Eastern Partnership countries to travel to the EU without having to request a visa. This has considerable potential in terms of family, study and business contacts. This means a lot, I can tell you, for each citizen of Moldova, who for the first time can come to the European Union without any kind of visa, showing how close they are in fact to the European Union.
Energy was also part of our discussions. And I want to be clear: Nobody in this region has an interest in using energy supplies as a political weapon. That would only backfire.
I therefore welcome the very good cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Romania on various common energy projects, notably their new gas interconnector, which the EU has supported as a priority. It will be finalized in the coming weeks and will give Moldova new alternatives, making its supplies more secure and extending the advantages of the European internal energy market.
No European nation should be an energy island – isolated from European networks. And the Republic of Moldova, as a member of the Energy Community, should be free to choose the same rights of access to the energy internal market if it so wishes.
We have also discussed the general situation in the region. Moldova is key to restore stability and to boost much-needed prosperity in this part of our continent.
A key partner for the European Union, Moldova is a free and sovereign country, able to make its own choices.
I have reiterated to Prime Minister Leancă the Commission's support for the Republic of Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We both have stressed the importance to advance negotiations in the so called 5+2 format towards a solution of the Transnistrian conflict that respects the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova with a special status for Transnistria.
Prime Minister,
Thank you once again for a very useful, constructive and friendly meeting. We will be seeing each other often in the next few months. As part of our continued engagement I will be visiting Moldova in June where I will open an Investment Conference, precisely aimed at showing the potential of a reforms-oriented Moldovan economy.
And I hope to see you shortly afterwards in the June European Council for the final signature of the Association Agreement which will seal Moldova's European path.
It is a long walk but you are not walking alone.
And regarding the Association Agreement let me tell you that we see it not just as a very important Association Agreement, we see it not as the end of the road. I can say that the Association Agreement will not constitute the end goal in the EU-Moldova relations.
I want to tell you that we believe in the European perspective of Moldova.
Thank you for your attention!