Moldova's PM Visits Brussels as President Courts Moscow

Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip heads to Brussels on Thursday to chair the annual European Union-Moldova Association Council, a forum for Moldovan cabinet members and EU representatives to discuss the country's progress in implementing reforms.

The meeting comes at a tense time in Chisinau, as the rift widens between the pro-Russian President Igor Dodon on the one side, and Filip's government and parliament, both dominated by pro-European political factions, on the other.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the council will examine Moldova's reform process and review convergence between the EU and Moldova in foreign and security policy.

It will also discuss issues like judiciary reform and the fight against corruption, organised crime, human trafficking, terrorism and money laundering.

According to the EU report on Moldova, published on March 13, the country has adopted a number of reforms on judiciary, corruption and public administration, but needs to work more on respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, to strengthen the justice system.

"Perceived political interference in the judiciary and law enforcement is a systemic impediment to social and economic development," the report says.

Moldova adopted reforms intended to restore macro-financial stability following the massive banking fraud it experienced in 2014, when a billion dollars vanished from accounts in three banks.

However, investigations still need to be carried out to bring all those responsible for the banking fraud to justice, and the business and investment climate remains negatively affected by widespread corruption and inconsistent policies, the report says.

"Ongoing consolidation of economic interests in the hands of fewer people...