- August 25, 2016
- Posted by: admin
- Categories: News Moldova, News Romania, SEE News
European Union member Romania said Wednesday (24 August) it has paid the first tranche of a multi-million-euro loan to neighbouring Moldova, in a bid to prevent the ex-Soviet nation from economic collapse and help it maintain a pro-European course.
Earlier this year, the Romanian government pledged to lend Moldova 150 million euros to help it push through anti-corruption reforms after the nation was rocked by a massive scandal in 2015.
Bucharest said in a statement that a first “60-million-euro tranche of the financial loan” has now been released, after Moldovan authorities and officials from the International Monetary Fund reached a roadmap agreement on an economic reform programme in July.
The announcement comes ahead of a visit by Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos to Moldova on Thursday.
Wedged between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is often seen in terms of a tug-of-war between Russia and the West, especially after it signed a historic EU free trade agreement two years ago despite bitter opposition from its former master Moscow.
The country has been mired in political turmoil since the disappearance of $1 billion (888 million euros) from its leading bank in 2014.
The scandal sparked mass demonstrations early last year, eventually leading to the arrest of ex-premier Vlad Filat and the dismissal of the government in October.
Faced with hostile public opinion, the new pro-EU administration of Prime Minister Pavel Filip vowed to bring greater transparency to the finance sector — a key condition to secure a deal with the IMF and unlock crucial EU aid.
In addition to economic reforms, the government also introduced a series of political changes.
As a result, Moldovans will be able to elect their president in October through a direct vote for the first time in 16 years.
Previously lawmakers had chosen the head of state through a parliamentary supermajority.
24 August, 2016