CHISINAU. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita has expressed her hope that talks over her country's joining the European Union would begin before the end of this year.
"We hope that negotiations can be opened as soon as possible, by the end of this year. At the same time, we are making clear that we are not looking for shortcuts," Gavrilita told a joint press conference with European Parliament (EP) President Roberta Metsola in Brussels on Monday.
She recalled that Moldova had been required to fulfill nine recommendations the European Commission (EC) gave it last June in order to qualify as an EU candidate.
"We understand that these conditions represent important reforms that have to bring benefit, first and foremost, to the Moldovan people and improve the institutions for the benefit of the Moldovan people. And this is not just about ticking the box of the self-imposed plan, but rather achieving those real transformations that will be visible and that will be felt by the Moldovan people," Gavrilita said.
The very membership process could bring about favorable changes to the country in terms of programs' implementation and more funding, she said. The EP also supports the idea of moving ahead as quickly as possible, but the reforms should be implemented at due level, she said.
For her part, Metsola said that joining the EU involves certain steps to be made, adding that the EP was fully supportive of Moldova's membership ambition.
The Moldovan government's delegation is in Brussels to attend a seventh meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council on Tuesday, which will be co-chaired by Gavrilita and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. The EC will be represented by Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.
The two sides will discuss cooperation in relation to Moldova's receiving a candidate status. At the top of the agenda will be political dialogue and reforms, economic and industrial cooperation, including in the power sector, trade, and rapprochement on foreign policy and security.