Brussels Blocks Cash for Moldova Over Cancelled Elections

The European Commission on Wednesday blocked financial assistance for Moldova after the country's Supreme Court and the Electoral Commission last week cancelled the mayoral elections in the capital, Chisinau.

"The disbursement of the first tranche under the current Macro-Financial Assistance programme has ... been put on hold," the European Commission told BIRN on Wednesday.

"A Commission assessment undertaken together with the European External Action Service has found that the political preconditions have not been fulfilled.

"This assessment is based on the recent political events in Moldova and, in particular, the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice of 25 June on the invalidation of election results in Chisinau," the spokesperson explained.

As in the case of other countries that signed association agreements with the European Union, disbursements under the Macro-Financial Assistance programme are linked to the successful implementation of specific economic measures, but also to political preconditions related to respect of democratic mechanisms, the rule of law and human rights, the Commission official added.

Moldova is set to receive 100 million euros in macro-economic assistance from the EU. The first payment was scheduled for July this year.

The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, met Moldova's Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, on Tuesday in Strasbourg.

A press release from the Moldovan cabinet said Hahn told Filip during the talks that no decision on transferring the EU funds had yet been taken.

Moreover, Filip said that political developments in Chisinau should not impact on practical cooperation between Moldova and the EU.

Hahn criticised Moldova's lack of judicial and administration...