Date of release : 22-02-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : EU-Moldova Cooperation Council

The Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration and current President of the Council of the European Union, Jean Asselborn, presided over the EU-Moldova Cooperation Council on Tuesday 22 February 2005.

This 7th EU-Moldova Cooperation Council reaffirmed the willingness to reinforce EU-Moldova relations in the political, economic and commercial domains, notably by the adoption of an Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

President Asselborn stressed the importance of the Action Plan, "which aims at reinforcing the relations between the EU and Moldova and at supporting the reforms in the political and economic domains in Moldova."

The Cooperation Council emphasised the significance of an open and equitable election climate during the forthcoming Moldavian parliamentary elections of 6 March 2005, including a pluralist and impartial coverage of the campaign and respect of the neutrality of the civil service with regards to all candidates and their supporters. Jean Asselborn said: "The level of relations between the EU and Moldova will indeed be in direct relation to the engagement of Moldova in favour of our common values."

Moreover, Foreign Minister Asselborn signalled that the European Union "supports the mediation efforts of the OSCE in the resolution of the Transnistrian conflict."

Finally, the Cooperation Council has welcomed the ratification by Moldova of the Protocol extending the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the ten new Member States of the EU, as well as the preliminary acceptance of the Framework Agreement for the opening of a Commission Delegation in Chisinau.