Vice President of European Parliament paid an official visit to Moldova

01 November 2007

Vice President of the European Parliament Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez paid a 29 October official visit to Chisinau. His agenda covered meetings with the Moldovan top leadership and at the end of the day, Martinez gave a news conference jointly with Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu.

The vice president of the European Parliament welcomed the Moldovan legislature’s interest in identifying concrete mechanisms of bilateral cooperation with the European legislative institution in order to deepen the cooperation relations established within the framework of the EU-Moldova interparliamentary cooperation committee.

Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez expressed the European Parliament’s willingness to back Moldova assert its European integration aspirations. In this respect, the European official reiterated the importance that Moldova carries out internal reforms for the benefit of its citizens. He also highlighted that he found out that there are problems with the implementation of some reforms, but he considers that it is also the EU’s obligation to help Moldova promote reforms.

Martinez also underscored the importance that the Republic of Moldova benefits from a clear perspective of accession to the European family. The vice president of the European parliament also highlighted that in case Moldova joins the EU, it might have a significant contribution and play the role of linking bridge in the EU-Russia relations.

At the same time, the European official reiterated the European Parliament’s position that the Transnistrian conflict has to be settled by observing Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this respect, he said that the EU will involve more actively in the settlement process and will turn from observer into an active participant in the negotiations.

“The Republic of Moldova is going to take more intense actions in order to boost its visibility at the European level and to create a wide circle of friends among the member states of the European,” Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu said at the news conference.

Lupu stated that the visit to Chisinau by the vice president of the European Parliament is an important action towards consolidating the relations between the Moldovan legislative body and the European Parliament and towards supporting Moldova’s efforts of European integration.

“The European Parliament is a valuable partner to the Republic of Moldova and an important actor on the stage of European talks. Promoting a blatant and permanent dialogue with the European legislative forum would significantly contribute to enhancing Moldova’s visibility among the European states and including our country’s problems on the European agenda,” the speaker said.

Marian Lupu spoke out for negotiations on a new legal arrangement with the European Union given that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement runs out in 2008. According to the head of the parliament, the new agreement should stipulate clearly Moldova’s gradual rapprochement to the four European freedoms.

The parliament speaker advocated the extension of the dialogue between the Moldovan and European legislative bodies, highlighting the need to identify mechanisms of cooperation between the two bodies’ competent commissions. In this respect, Marian Lupu expressed the interest of the Moldovan lawmakers and employees of the Moldovan legislature in taking over the working experience and activity of the European Parliament.

Vice President of the European Parliament Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez also met Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, during which the head of state highlighted that the European integration is the irreversible strategic direction of Moldova and top priority of its domestic and foreign policy, according to the presidential press service.
Also, Voronin referred to the importance of liberalising the visa regime with the EU member states and of getting the EU Autonomous Trade Preferences so that our country be able to get closer to the European community.
The president highlighted the advantages of Moldova's geographical position - EU neighbour country and member state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - which gives it the possibility of merging the economic preferences offered within the European Union with those of the CIS. In the context, Voronin appreciated the understanding displayed by Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez towards Moldova’s position according to which the good cooperation relations with the Russian Federation and other CIS states are not in breach of our country’s European integration aspirations.

The vice president of the European Parliament saluted Moldova's European integration aspirations and expressed the EU's willingness to further back Moldova to meet this strategically important option.

During the meeting, the officials also exchanged opinions on the current stage and the prospects of settling the Transnistrian issue. In the context, Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez said that Moldovan president’s recent initiatives aimed at bolstering confidence between Chisinau and Tiraspol are in the midst of attention of the Western press, and asked the president to give details on these measures.

The meeting between Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez and the head of the Moldovan diplomacy, Andrei Stratan, focused on issues related to the implementation of the Moldova-EU Action Plan, the Moldova-EU cooperation in justice and internal affairs, economy and energy. The two officials also paid increased attention to the future of the Moldova-EU relations, with Stratan calling for continuous support for Moldova to promote within the EU the need of giving Moldova clear European prospects.

The head of the Moldovan diplomacy positively appreciated the European Parliament’s favourable position on key issues of paramount importance for the Moldovan authorities, such as the gradual and progressive advancement of the Moldova-EU relations mainly in meeting the goal of European integration, the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and the support for Moldova’s internal reforms process.

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