The European Union will provide Moldova with up to 410 million euros in 2014-2017. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn signed a memorandum of understanding to this end in Chisinau today.
The two officials also signed a financing agreement on a support programme on the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area in Moldova. The document provides for a 30-million-euro-worth assistance.
Iurie Leanca said Moldova reconfirmed its priority position on the EU's foreign policy agenda. “The support voiced by Commissioner Johannes Hahn for the priorities of our dialogue with EU comes in a decisive stage - the one of enforcement of the provisions of the Association Agreement and creation of the Free Trade Area,” Leanca said.
Johannes Hahn said Moldova was an European state and its efforts to implement the European values turned it into an important partner of EU. At the same time, the official specified that the Association Agreement would contribute to modernising Moldova and urged the Moldovan authorities to continue reforms and fighting corruption, in order to attract new investments.
This is the first visit abroad by Johannes Hahn as Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, after he took over the office from Stefan Füle, whose mandate ended on 31 October.
