The justice sector reform, fight against corruption, implementation of the provisions of the agreement with the IMF and modernization of the energy sector of the Republic of Moldova are the main conditionality elements that will be imposed by the European Union for providing the €150 million in macro-financial assistance, said the Head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau Janis Mazeiks. The ambassador noted that a part of the assistance offered by the European community is non-reimbursable and this shows that the EU supports Moldova disinterestedly, IPN reports.
As the European officials decided, €30 million of the €150 million earmarked for the Republic of Moldova will be provided in grant funding, while €120 million in medium-term loans in favorable financing conditions.
“The European Union decided to provide the next tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of €150 million. I want to note the grant component here as not many states enjoy this component when it goes to financial assistance. It comes to support offered by the EU to the Republic of Moldova and to the favorable, positive way in which the EU looks at the Republic of Moldova,” Janis Mazeiks stated in the program “Diplomatic Dimension” on the public TV channel.
Moreover, the diplomat said the EU maintains the conditionality policy and the official Chisinau will have to do the agreed homework. All the conditions imposed by the EU are designed to contribute to developing and modernizing the country and to ensure higher living standards for the people.
“This money will help the Republic of Moldova to ensure the liquidity needed for the state budget. Surely, there will be conditionality as we do not offer money otherwise. We have demands and they are to be agreed with the Republic of Moldova. We are now in the process of deciding the conditionality,” said Janis Mazeiks, noting that the conditions refer to the implementation of the agreement with the IMF that was signed last yearend and of the Association Agreement with the EU, justice sector reform, fight against corruption and energy sector.
Two days ago, Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan said the legislative procedures were hastened so that the European Parliament could approve the provision of €150 million to the Republic of Moldova as soon as possible. The vote on the assistance in the Committee on International Trade was set for March 14 and the final vote in the European Parliament will be given later.
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