PM Cioloș on Saturday sent his Moldovan counterpart Pavel Filip a letter elaborating on the reforms that Republic of Moldova has to step up ‘as soon as possible’ to unblock EUR 60 M from the loan agreement signed by the two countries. The money represents a first tranche from the reimbursable loan of EUR 15 M.
The list includes 7 measures whose achievement will lay the grounds for the relaunch of the Republic of Moldova’s partnerships with other international and financial partners.
Romanian Government’s list suggests seven steps to be taken:
-clear prioritization of the EU-R. of Moldova Association Agreement. In this respect, we hail a first step taken by adopting the National Plan of Harmonization of the domestic legislation with the EU laws.
– immediate appointment of a governor of the National Bank, as well as attention given to the audit process of the important bank in the Republic of Moldova.
-inviting an International Monetary Fund mission to Chișinău was a first important step. Now, a roadmap is needed to reach an agreement with IMF as soon as possible. The roadmap should include the Fund’s pre-conditions and a negotiation timetable that should lead to a staff level agreement.
-initiation of a law package to improve the business environment based on a transparent consultation process with the civil society and with the local businessmen.
–a systemic analysis of the banking system’s vulnerabilities and fixing a legislative timetable to amend them, focusing on countering money laundering, enhancing the National Bank’s prerogatives, ensuring the transparency of the shareholders and transactions in the banking system.
-tabling a plan of judiciary reform’s and national anti-corruption strategy’s enforcement, including an evaluation of the performance of the Prosecutor’s Office and of the National Anti-corruption Center. Reforming the National Integrity Committee, wealth control, conflict of interest.
–consultation and tight collaboration with the representatives of the civil society on the above-mentioned topics.
PM Cioloș underlines in the letter that Romania is and will continue to be by R. Moldova’s side, insisting that Romania is willing to grant the necessary aid to the Republic of Moldova ‘in a structured and gradual action in connection with the efforts undertaken by Chișinău to assume and enforce the democratic economic and institutional reforms’. The Romanian prime minister argues that only this way Romania’s assistance “will be able to reach the desired impact for the benefit of the Moldovan citizens.’
In the end, PM Cioloș informs that up to that moment the Romanian Gov’t will take the necessary steps to shape an emergency humanitarian aid for the Republic of Moldova for boosting sectorial cooperation and relaunching some strategic projects.