PRESS RELEASE

Subject :

The Cooperation Council between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova held its second meeting at ministerial level on Tuesday 25 January 2000. The meeting was chaired by Mr Francisco SEIXAS da COSTA, State Secretary for European Affairs of Portugal and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union. The Moldovan Delegation ( 1) was headed by Mr Dumitru BRAGHIS, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. The European Commission was represented by Mr LEGRAS, Director General.

This second meeting of the Cooperation Council marks a further intensification of the relations between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. The Parties noted with satisfaction that all the institutions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), in particular the Co-operation Committee and its subcommittees, had been established and had held their first meetings. This provided a solid basis for developing a strong political and economic partnership between the EU and the Republic of Moldova.

The Parties took stock of the latest developments in the Republic of Moldova and in the European Union. The Cooperation Council underlined the importance of deep reforms in Moldova and expressed its confidence that the conditions to start again full international cooperation, in particular with the IFIs, will be quickly restored. The EU informed Moldova about the ongoing enlargement process as well as on the consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam.

The Cooperation Council welcomed the progress achieved in the implementation of the Joint PCA work programme for 1998/99 adopted by the Cooperation Council on 14 July 1998. It considered that the validity of the Joint Work Programme should be extended.

The EU side declared its willingness to help Moldova in developing its new trade policy and the Cooperation Council expressed the hope that Moldova's WTO accession will take place in a near future.

Ministers had over lunch a very useful exchange of views on political issues of mutual interest, in particular on the recent developments concerning Transdniestria, the political situation in Moldova, the economic policy programme and the regional cooperation.

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Footnotes:

( 1) The Moldovan delegation also included Mr Nicolae TABACARU, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr George GABERI, Deputy Minister of Economy and Reforms, Mr CHIRIAC, Deputy Minister of Finance.