Deoligarchization and EU financing Re-establishment of the Moldova. The talks between Johannes Hahn and Maia Sandu

The political dialogue between Moldova and the European Union is rising to a new level, and the macro-financial assistance promised to Moldova is to come in the country this autumn, as soon as the previously stated EU conditions for its receipt are met, told Prime Minister Maia Sandu and European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn at a joint press conference on June, 19. “This is the first visit of a foreign official after the appointment of the government. We are grateful to Mr. Hahn as well as European institutions and European States. Thanks to them, the political crisis in Moldova was resolved peacefully,” Sandu said at a press conference. She said that the officials discussed the new cabinet’s initiatives on Moldova’s de-oligarchization, the state’s release from captivity, edification of independent institutions, fight against corruption and the investigation of the one-billion-dollar theft. “We have reaffirmed our commitment create conditions for the independent media and civil society,” Sandu added. Commissioner Hahn said that he was very happy to return to Chisinau just a few weeks after. “We had a wonderful meeting,” he said. The European Commissioner expressed confidence that the EU macro-financial assistance may come in the country this autumn, starting in September. “In September last year, I gave prerequisites to the ex-Prime Minister Pavel Filip. I am sure that the new government will fulfill them,” Hahn said. Hahn said that he invited Maia Sandu to visit Brussels in the near future. When asked about Moldova’s prospects for EU membership, the European official called on the authorities to focus on using the potential of free trade and Association agreements with the EU. “I believe that we need to focus on the implementation of agreements with the EU. It is far from being possible for us to take full advantage of the agreements. This is what worries the citizens most. There is a lot of work to be done in the next few months. Moldova should become more attractive for foreign companies,” Hahn explained. Asked by journalists about the role of the EU and the U.S. in the change of power in Moldova, Hahn said that it was own decision of local politicians. “That was their own decision. Russia and the United States, as we can see, are interested in stability in the region,” he said. The EU representative said that after the change of power in Moldova, the size of macro-financial assistance could increase next year. Newsmaker