'Voices from the Forum' Series - Sorin Mereacre: Civil Society Encourages the European Union to Sign the Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova

Civil society encourages the European Union to initial and sign the Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova which will provide the country and its people the opportunity to live in dignity and have a better life, said Sorin Mereacre, President of the East-European Foundation at the Civil Society Forum in Chisinau.

Carrying on the success from Vilnius will not be an easy task for the Republic of Moldova, as the internal situation is very volatile in the country. Initialing the Association Agreement doesn’t mean that European processes will be irreversible, said Sorin Mereacre.

President of the East-European Foundation pointed out that the singing of the Association Agreement with the EU means that the authorities will have to enhance the quality of reforms– in justice, business environment, education or medicine. „We are waiting for important changes in daily life. The civil society encourages the politicians to ratify and sign the Association Agreement. This will encourage people‘s trust for a better life, through fostering internal reforms aimed at improving people’s daily life”, states Sorin Mereacre.

According to him, politicians should provide a chance to this country- a chance to its people to have a better life here in Moldova without having to leave the country. “On the other hand, the signing of the Association Agreement with EU will provide an impetus to the civil society to demand more reforms from authorities and to create together with the business environment and state institutions a critical mass for the European reforms to become irreversible in the Republic of Moldova”, said Sorin Mereacre.

To be successful on its European path, the Government should be active in implementing reforms and combating corruption in the Republic of Moldova. The civil society should monitor these processes and foster them while the media should become a genuine watchdog of the society, without manipulating the public opinion. In general, the Republic of Moldova should cope with the attempts to reverse its European agenda which come both from inside and outside the country, said Sorin Mereacre, President of the East- European Foundation.

The 5th Annual Meeting of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum is organized with the support of the European Commission / the European External Action Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Government of Sweden, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Transparency International Moldova and East- European Foundation.

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