Dirk Schuebel: Moldova still faces the same challenges – judicial reform, investment climate
Moldova got closer to the European Union after launching important joint programs, such as the Association Agreement, visa-free travel regime and others. The opinion, made during an interview with Moldova’s public radio, belongs to Dirk Schuebel, the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova,
“Soon we are going to sign an aviation agreement which brings us even closer,” said Dirk Schuebel.
The aviation agreement is meant to integrate the air markets of the two sides, bolster the co-operation between airliners and offer new opportunities for consumers and carriers. The common aviation zone is based on common rules in important areas such as aviation safety and security.
According to him, the EU-Moldovan relations have grown during the last two and a half years and this thing could be seen by counting the number of visits to Brussels of Premier Vlad Filat and the visits of some EU officials to Moldova.
The EU envoy to Moldova thinks that the country deals with the same obstacles as it did before. There is need to apply reforms.
“The biggest challenges have remained the same. That is the reform of judiciary, the reform of the law enforcement institutions, and the improvement of the investment climate. I think if you tackle these issues together, then you will become a really democratic country in which rule of law leads,” Dirk Schuebel said.
According to the EU official, Moldova has done a tremendous job since we started this visa dialogue in June 2010. The European Commission will have to issue a report soon presenting the progress Moldova has registered during the first round of visa liberalization negotiations. If it will be positive, then the Commission might start the second round of negotiations.
The visa dialogue was launched in June 2011. It aims at preparing ground for the goal of visa-free travel of Moldovan citizens to the European Union.
EU can help Moldova to strengthen its economy by offering grants. The investments can come later from the EU member states.
“Investments are not the task of the EU as such. What we provide is grants, grants to help in all necessary areas, but not necessarily investments,” the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova claimed.
Moldova is a main partner country within the Eastern Partnership which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
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