On 3 May, the EU and the Republic of Moldova held the fourth meeting of the Association Council under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. In the run-up to the meeting, the Association Implementation Report was published by the EU on 5 April, after the EU Foreign Affairs Council had previously adopted Council Conclusions on Moldova on 26 February.
Both documents focus on reform efforts in Moldova and, while acknowledging the reform steps already taken, they underline that it is crucial that these steps are continued and implemented.
Following the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to political association and economic integration by working in close partnership on the basis of the Association Agreement.
“The Association Council highlighted that this process is fundamentally based on deep and structural reforms in key sectors,” said the EU and Moldova in a joint press statement after the meeting. “The Council underscored that strengthening statehood and society can only take place through a genuine and decisive fight against vested interests and corruption, in order to build stronger institutions and contribute to the country’s growth.”
The joint statement covered a number of issues concerning both sides.
The EU underlined that the revised Association Agenda, which sets out 13 key priorities for action, and the 20 deliverables for 2020 should serve as practical guidance to this end.
At the end of the statement, the EU commended the Republic of Moldova’s active and constructive participation in the multilateral dimension of the Eastern Partnership and encouraged Moldova to continue contributing to the achievement of deliverables for 2020. It also took note of Moldova’s proposals on ways to enhance dialogue with the EU.
