EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele says Moldova is an Eastern Partnership "front-runner," but needs to address remaining "serious" challenges on its path toward closer ties with the European Union.
Fuele said constitutional reform, deep judicial reform, the fight against corruption, and improvement of the business climate "cannot wait any longer."
Fuele was speaking on October 3 in Chisinau where along with Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius of current EU president Lithuania he attended an Eastern Partnership civil society forum.
Fuele also reiterated that the EU will stand by Moldova if external pressure is brought to bear to discourage its European ambitions.
A recent Russian ban on Moldovan wine imports was widely seen as a warning to Chisinau ahead of the EU's Eastern Partnership summit in November, where Moldova hopes to be offered an Association Agreement.
Fuele said constitutional reform, deep judicial reform, the fight against corruption, and improvement of the business climate "cannot wait any longer."
Fuele was speaking on October 3 in Chisinau where along with Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius of current EU president Lithuania he attended an Eastern Partnership civil society forum.
Fuele also reiterated that the EU will stand by Moldova if external pressure is brought to bear to discourage its European ambitions.
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A recent Russian ban on Moldovan wine imports was widely seen as a warning to Chisinau ahead of the EU's Eastern Partnership summit in November, where Moldova hopes to be offered an Association Agreement.