Sweden to grant Moldova 52 million euros in financial assistance
Prime Minister Vlad Filat participated in a ceremony of signing the Agreement on the Strategy for Development Cooperation for 2011-2014 between Moldova and Sweden, the government's communications and press relations department has said.
The document was signed by Moldovan Finance Minister Veaceslav Negruta and by the Director General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka.
The strategy envisages 13 million euros in financial aid given by Sweden to Moldova, to promote democracy, human rights and gender equality, as well as infrastructure and market development.
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka said the new cooperation strategy is a proof of Sweden's commitment to back Moldova's aspirations of association and economic integration into the European Union.
"Sweden will provide assistance for the development of a more efficient public administration that will enhance transparency and reduce corruption, thus bolstering the citizens' confidence in the government. Sweden has already admitted that Moldova has made progresses in this respect," Charlotte Petri Gornitzka said.
The head of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency added that gender equality and women's promotion in politics are other components of the agreement.
For his part, Prime Minister Vlad Filat thanked Sweden for the constant support given to Moldova to implement democratic reforms meant to enhance people's welfare. He noted that the EU integration is Moldova's top objective in terms of domestic and foreign policies. "The thorough fulfillment of this objective will make it possible to stick to a security, stability and prosperity system ruled by democratic values and respect for the fundamental human freedoms," Filat said.
The prime minister said that Moldova further relies on Sweden's support for the consolidation of a transparent, responsible and efficient public administration, as well as for the effective use of energy resources.
"We appreciate the fact that under the implementation of the assistance strategy for Moldova, Sweden, along with other cooperation partners, will take enhanced efforts to use the country's planning, implementation and monitoring systems and will promote transparency and comprehensive involvement in the decision-making process. The support offered in the public administration field will be backed by the one provided by the organizations of the civil society, as well as by free media. These are the key factors in Moldova's democratic development," Filat said.
The today's event is a step towards the practical enforcement of the partnership principles between the Moldovan government and the donors' community, in terms of effective implementation of the official assistance for development, a document that was signed in March 2010.
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