Barroso says EU, Moldova may sign association agreement by September 2013
Interfax | Sept. 15, 2012
Barroso says EU, Moldova may sign association agreement by September 2013
by Interfax-Ukraine
Chisinau, September 14 (Interfax) — European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso believes Moldova and the EU could sign an association agreement within a year, before an Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for September 2013, the Moldovan government reported citing Barroso as saying in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Vlad Filat.
Barroso praised the Moldovan authorities’ efforts toward integration into Europe and assured Filat that the European Commission would support Moldova in putting into practice its European aspirations.
"During the conversation, [Filat and Barroso] exchanged opinions on bilateral relations and Moldova’s European integration. Jose Manuel Barroso congratulated Moldova on continuing the reform process and very efficient negotiations with the European Union and said that he would pay an official visit to Chisinau in the near future," it said.
Filat reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment to a European choice and declared that "the government will continue the reforms to be closer to European standards and attain the main goal, i.e. EU membership," the press service said.
Filat also thanked Barroso for support and said that financial assistance that Moldova is receiving from European bodies is important to it.
