A STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EU AND THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA IS NEEDED

Thursday, 07.05.2009, 09:43 / SEISUKOHAD / RSS

The European Parliament is expected to vote a joint resolution on the situation in the Republic of Moldova.
The Socialist Group was concerned about political developments following the parliamentary elections in Moldova on 5 April 2009.

Estonian MEP Marianne Mikko, who chaired the ad hoc parliamentarian delegation to Moldova, concluded after the visit on 26-29 April “that the human rights, rule of law and the respective European conventions were severely violated in the post electoral period”.

“Both the conduct of the electoral process and the subsequent action taken by government indicate major deficiencies in Moldova’s judicial and democratic system, and show a propensity to stifle free speech and independent media”, concluded Mrs. Mikko .

Said Jan Marinus Wiersma, Socialist Group’s vice president: “We call on the EU to keep a close watch on developments and to work closely with Moldova to ensure peace and stability, in the framework of OSCE obligations and the principles of Moldova’s association with the EU.

“We urge the Moldovan government to normalise diplomatic ties with its closest EU-neighbour Romania, without delay, and expect Bucharest to play a constructive role.
No evidence has come to light on the basis of which any EU member state could be accused of being responsible for the violent events of the recent weeks.

“The political situation in Moldova is characterised by a high level of instability, which is an indication of the need for a stronger EU engagement in the country through the Eastern Partnership process, that is about to be launched in Prague tomorrow. Moldova is an EU problem”, Mr.Wiersma said.

The resolution will be forwarded to the Prague summit meeting designed to embrace six states -Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan under a plan called Eastern Partnership, which is meant to stabilize this region.