The visit to Chisinau shows the European Union’s firm commitment to strengthen cooperation with Moldova, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in a meeting with President Nicolae Timofti, IPN has learned from the presidential press service.

“Moldova’s integration into the EU is a real prospect and we are already thinking about the actions that we will take together after the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit,” said the European official. Nicolae Timofti and Catherine Ashton also discussed the objectives that the Moldovan authorities set for the near future, including the fight against corruption and the economic growth.

The head of state said the Moldovan authorities wish to successfully cover the period preceding the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit of this autumn. “We have a great responsibility towards our citizens, who want the country to form part of the European family and we are thus obliged to advance to an as close relationship with the EU as possible. In this sense, the initialing of the Association Agreement with the EU at the summit in Vilnius will be a very encouraging sign for the Moldovan population,” said Nicolae Timofti.

According to a communiqué from the Parliament’s press service, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also had a meeting with Speaker Igor Corman. The two discussed the implementation of the reform agenda in the context of Moldova’s European integration, the progress made and the prospects that the Vilnius summit can offer for developing the relations between Moldova and the EU. The Head of Parliament underlined that Moldova can be anchored in an irreversible European integration process only by durable actions and reforms for the benefit of the people, who want a European Moldova.

Catherine Ashton also met with leaders of parliamentary parties and faction heads. Representatives of the Communist parliamentary group didn’t attend. The head of the Liberal-Democratic faction Valeriu Strelet said the people need European integration. Therefore, the country’s integration into the EU represents the main goal of the government coalition.

The head of the Democratic faction Dumitru Diacov said that by Moldova’s example, the EU can encourage the EaP countries to intensify cooperation with the European partners so as to come politically and economically closer to the European family. Liberal MP Ion Hadarca said that it is the duty of the government coalition to maintain the pro-European vector and the authorities must make concerted effort to settle the Transnistrian conflict.