Moldova not ready to apply for EU membership - Deputy PM
CHISINAU. Nov 20 (Interfax) - Moldova's cooperation with the European Union has suffered a setback, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Iurie Leanca said.
In 2014 the country was "seriously considering" applying for an EU membership, he said. "Unfortunately, a difficult period followed, with parliamentary elections in late 2014 and several government crises. This threw back our cooperation with the EU," Leanca said at an annual EU integration forum in Chisinau on Tuesday, organized for the sixth time by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
"We are for mandatory continuation of the political dialogue with the EU. But one has to recognize that this dialogue is not at the level it should be. Chisinau has not hosted high-ranking Brussels officials since 2015. And that's bad," Leanca said.
Asked when Moldova could apply for EU membership, he said: "Right now the main test of Moldova's European path will be parliamentary elections and whatever they involve."