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EU not considering Moldova as candidate for accession

Prime Minister Leance says Moldova deserves EU membership much more than some other countries in the Balkans
Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca EPA/DUMITRU DORU
Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca
© EPA/DUMITRU DORU

CHISINAU, February 19. /ITAR-TASS/. The Eropean Union is not considering Moldova as a candidate for accession to its ranks although Moldova deserves this much more than some countries in the Balkans, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said in an interview published by the Moldovan media Wednesday.

“We are not treated in the same way yet as the countries involved in the so-called Thessaloniki process,” he said. “Look at Kosovo, which hasn’t received the recognition of all the European countries so far, but its geographic situation has automatically earned it the status (of a candidate country). I think that’s not right.”

He indicated that the Moldovan government does not object to the prospects of Kosovo’s membership in the EU, although it does not recognize Kosovo as a sovereign country either.

“A decision on accession to the EU should be based not only on the geographic circumstances but rather on the country’s compliance with European standards,” Leanca said. “And if you take this aspect, Moldova has made a much greater progress in this regard than many West-Balkan nations.”

Moldova is getting ready to sign an association agreement with the EU this year, including an agreement on free trade. In addition, it is pressing for simpler travel visa issuance procedures. In exchange for this, the government has promised to carry out a number of EU requirements in the field of judiciary, finances and state administration.