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'The financial package of almost EUR 2 billion granted to our country is one of the largest EU aid packages offered to candidate countries'- Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, in an interview for 'Dialog Deschis'

14-03-2025 11:53
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Dialog Deschis: Madam Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, it has been one year since the opening of the Bureau for European Integration, so let's make an assessment of the BEI's activities. What were the achievements of this year? What are the biggest problems you have faced? And what is your vision for the Bureau's work in the coming period?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Indeed, today we are celebrating a year of activity of the Bureau for European Integration. It was a complicated year, because it means creating an institution from scratch. Even though it has been a difficult process, it has not been impossible, because we have the full support in our effort to accelerate the process of European integration, not only the support of the Government, but also of society. In one year we have managed to create a team, which we are going to strengthen and make sure that we have the necessary capacity to deliver results.

 

First and foremost, the most significant and a first achievement over the last year is that we have opened accession negotiations - an achievement not only of the Bureau, but of the country. In record time, we have reached a sufficiently advanced stage so that we can say that very soon we will be opening actual negotiations on the first group of chapters.

 

At the same time, we have already started to work on drafting the first negotiating positions and we hope that in the next few months we will have the second Intergovernmental Conference, which will mark the opening of the first group of chapters for the actual negotiations.

 

Dialog Deschis: So the first Cluster will be opened this spring or at least during the Polish Presidency?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Exactly. The first cluster is about fundamentals and we are planning to open it in the context of the Polish Presidency. We have the full support of Poland, but at the same time we also have the support of Member States to move forward.

 

Dialog Deschis: The screening procedure was very complex and is still ongoing. What is the latest news on bilateral screening?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: On bilateral screening - next week we are going to Brussels with three more chapters. After the finalisation of these, we can say that the Republic of Moldova has completed the screening for three of the six clusters of negotiating chapters. Basically, we are in the middle of the process. At this stage, we can already have a clear picture of the amount of work needed on a group of chapters in the coming years to ensure our accession to the European Union in the near future.

 

Dialog Deschis: What feedback have you received from the European Union on the bilateral screening? How prepared are we?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Every time we go to Brussels with our teams, depending on the chapter under analysis, we are appreciated for the work done and the progress made, especially in the last three years, since we applied for EU membership. It is a tribute to all of us. At the same time, we have a fairly clear picture of what we need to do in the coming years.

 

It is clear that justice reform must be completed with a positive outcome. We must strengthen the rule of law in our country, because this is one of the fundamental and not negotiable pillars with the European Union.

 

Dialog Deschis: Regarding the first cluster, how did the technical preparation for its opening proceed? I understand that the next move now depends on Brussels, not Chișinău, but I would like to ask whether you have all the necessary resources at your disposal, from human resources to the expertise that EU Member States, such as Romania, can offer.

 

Cristina Gherasimov: For the first group of chapters included in Cluster 1 'Fundamentals', we have completed the screening, and then colleagues from the European Commission drafted the screening report. The report was sent to the Council, which examined it.

 

In the meantime, we started to work on the roadmaps, which, in the case of the last candidate countries, were the reference criteria for opening negotiations - a kind of preconditions, so to speak, for opening the first cluster. 

 

We are at a very advanced stage with these documents. There are three roadmaps: one on public administration reform, one on the rule of law, and the third on the functioning of democratic institutions. At the same time, we have finalised the draft negotiating positions. They have been discussed with civil society, with business environment and we have also invited the political parties to participate in the consultations.

 

Therefore, we already have the technical package ready. From Brussels we are waiting for the letter inviting us to submit the roadmaps, then the negotiating positions. After that, the second Intergovernmental Conference will be held.

 

Dialog Deschis: You said that bilateral screening is to be completed for two more clusters. So we would have three clusters out of six. By the end of the year, would it be possible to open negotiations for these three clusters as well?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: It is certainly very possible. At the same time, it is important to be aware of the dynamics of international relations and, in particular, of the developments in recent months, which have great potential to accelerate the processes we are engaged in today.

 

Based on the recent statements by EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos and other officials, there is a lot of openness and a clear will to accelerate including the opening of Cluster 2 - Internal Market and Cluster 6 - External Relations. These two clusters are to be concluded next week, after which the European Commission will work on the screening reports.

 

These reports will then be forwarded to the Council, which will examine them and decide whether or not the Republic of Moldova is ready to open negotiations on these two clusters as well. From the messages and appreciations we have heard in Brussels, we have a good chance of succeeding with the opening of Cluster 2 and Cluster 6.

 

Dialog Deschis: More good news this week - the European Parliament has approved the EUR 1.9 billion Economic Growth Plan, with pre-financing available already since April. In practical terms, what does this help mean for Moldovan citizens? Many Moldovans claim that they have not felt the effects of the financial aid offered by external partners so far.

 

Cristina Gherasimov: We are extremely lucky to have the full support of the European Union. As a state we have experienced a lot of crises in the last four years and the EU has always been by our side. Why? Not as a mere formality, but as a result of the efforts and hard work we put in every day for the benefit of our citizens.

 

Over 3-4 years, we have demonstrated enough credibility and trust. The financial aid package in the form of the Economic Growth Plan for our country, adopted this week, reflects Member States' confidence in the Republic of Moldova's ability to overcome the challenges we are facing today.

 

I understand very well the concerns of our citizens, who say that we are not feeling the effects of this European Union funding in our pockets. But I want to assure everyone that EU funds are targeted to increase the quality of life. For example, one of the most recent grants, awarded in February by the European Union, was used by the Government to compensate bills so that the financial burden on people is reduced.

 

(...) Perhaps many people think that such quick measures are taken for all states. This is not true. The help we have obtained from the European Union is the result of the confidence they have in us: firstly, that we are managing these funds correctly and, secondly, that everything the Government is doing today is for the benefit of our citizens.

 

Dialog Deschis: We understand that this is the largest aid package ever received by the Republic of Moldova and, in relation to the size and population of our country, it would be the largest aid package ever offered by the European Union to any country. How will this package practically and technically contribute to our European integration path?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: You are right, this package of almost EUR 2 billion is not only the biggest support given to our country, but also, in relation to the number of inhabitants, one of the largest aid packages given to candidate countries, including the Western Balkans. From this perspective, this money is primarily to support our economy.

 

We have to understand that without sustainable economic growth, we cannot realise many of the opportunities desired by our citizens. We all want quality services, better salaries, higher pensions, but in order to get them, we need significant economic growth. That is why this almost €2 billion is here to help us grow our national economy.

 

We have the potential to grow and double the capacity of our economy. At the same time, this money will be invested both in major infrastructure projects and in important projects for our communities.

 

An important part of this money will also be directed through the European Village program - an instrument developed by the Government to respond to the needs of local communities: whether it is the rehabilitation of a local road, a kindergarten, the modernisation of a hospital or the installation of street lighting. So every municipality will be able to apply for these funds and benefit from projects that will improve the living standards of our citizens, whether they live in Rezina or Cahul.

 

Dialog Deschis: And this money will not be the last money that the European Union will offer to the Republic of Moldova, as we understand that during the period 2025-2027, we will receive this Economic Growth Package, and then, when a new European Union budget will be adopted, pre-accession funds will be allocated to the Republic of Moldova.

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Exactly. This money is provided for the next three years, but even during this period there will be other sources of funding for us. However, I want to underline once again that this is a very large amount of money for our economy.

 

It is important that we are able to absorb these funds efficiently so that their impact is felt: in better roads, in modernised hospitals not just in Chisinau, in quality services, in more jobs, so that all members of our society can benefit more from this economic growth. 

(...)

Dialog Deschis: At its meeting this week, the European Parliament announced the opening of a contact office in Chișinău. What will be its mission and how will the Bureau for European Integration work with this office?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: We, as a country, have been working for many years for the European Parliament to open an office in the Republic of Moldova. This is a success for all of us and reflects the confidence of the European institutions that the Republic of Moldova works first and foremost for its citizens.

 

The role of this office will be to create a more direct connection with our everyday realities. Members of the European Parliament will be able to come to Chișinău more often and for longer periods. They will be able to visit the regions of the country and discover the Republic of Moldova beyond the capital. These are the bridges that we are building with Brussels, with the European Union, which will help us to get to know each other better and to build the trust we need to become an EU Member State.

 

Dialog Deschis: So this office will make the job of the Bureau for European Integration easier? How will you collaborate?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Certainly, the European Parliament office will cooperate with all state institutions and not only. It will have close links with the Bureau for European Integration, as well as with civil society, the business and academic environment, and local public administration.

 

What is more, this office is not just for the Republic of Moldova, but for the whole Eastern Partnership area, which includes five other countries. This is a great achievement for our country, considering that any other state in the region could have been chosen to host it.

 

Dialog Deschis: Can the fact that the Republic of Moldova has been selected to host this office be considered as a confirmation that we are a regional leader in the European integration dimension?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: We are making significant efforts, which are being recognsed by Brussels as well. They are appreciated. And, yes, the decision to establish this office in Chișinău reflects the fact that we are working hard and that we manage to deliver results.

 

A lot of hard work is also being done in other Eastern Partnership countries, where there is the political will and will to speed up and move forward on the European path. But today we are certainly among the countries that not only want to, but are also demonstrating, in practical terms, the results of our efforts.

(...)

Dialog Deschis: Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, was in Chișinău the other day. How did he assess the Republic of Moldova's progress and what suggestions has he made in order to speed up the European integration process?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: Director-General Koopman's visit was indeed aimed at assessing progress in the field of reforms related to justice, anti-corruption, but also at completing the reform agenda for the Economic Growth Plan. I can say that, in all the discussions I attended, our efforts were again appreciated at the highest level. It was not a coincidence that exactly when he was in Chișinău, the European Parliament, gathered in Strasbourg, finally adopted the Economic Growth Plan. This reflects once again how hard we work and what we have achieved.

 

Dialog Deschis: We have heard from several representatives of the current Government that Mr. Koopman is a close friend of our country. What role does he play in promoting the Republic of Moldova subject in Brussels and our European agenda?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: There are several directorates-general within the European Commission, and the one headed by Gert Jan Koopman is responsible for relations with the candidate countries for enlargement and the European Union's neighborhood. The role of Mr Koopman and the team he leads is crucial, because the speed with which we move forward in the accession process depends on them.

 

This directorate-general is responsible for the assessment that the European Commission gives to the Member States and also for how quickly our needs and challenges are brought to the attention of the Member States so that they can decide on whether and how they can help us on certain issues. So it is due to Mr Koopman's team that we have been able to move through all the stages of the decision-making process so fast for the final adoption of the Economic Growth Plan.

 

By comparison, for the countries of the Western Balkans, it took much longer. However, we have gone through all the stages in record time, thanks to a very good relationship based on trust and respecting our commitments. We are delivering what we discussed and agreed to deliver on time.

(...)

Dialog Deschis: Some politicians, more or less well-intended, argue that we should have good relations with both East and West. Do you think this is possible in the current conjuncture?

 

Cristina Gherasimov: The Republic of Moldova wants cooperative relations with all peaceful states that respect the international order. This is our objective at the moment. You can notice that we have contacts not only with EU Member States, but also with countries all over the world. We hope that one day we will be able to have good relationships again with the Russian Federation as well, when it will respect the independence and sovereignty of its neighbors.

 

Interview from 13.3.2025

Video: 'DIALOG DESCHISwith Tudor Ioniță, Deschide.md

 

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