Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and the Neighbourhood Policy, made a statement welcoming the endorsement of the Iurie Leanca Government and of its program by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.

“This puts an end to a protracted political crisis that has endangered the stability of Moldova's state institutions. We invite the authorities and the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to consider the need for constitutional reform to strengthen systemic checks and balances, and to prevent the emergence of similar crises in the future,” reads the statement.

The two officials encourage Prime Minister Leanca, his government and all political parties of the Republic of Moldova to work in a spirit of inclusiveness, with a view to de-escalating political tensions and contributing to the further consolidation of democracy and the success of Moldova’s European agenda in the interest of every citizen.

“In this context, we call on the state authorities, the political class and civil society to pay close attention to the importance of ensuring the impartial, rule-based, transparent and effective functioning of all institutions, including law-enforcement bodies and regulatory agencies; and the defence of diversity, pluralism and quality in the media landscape,” says the statement.

Catherine Ashton and Štefan Füle reiterated that the European Union stands ready to continue supporting Moldova’s efforts to implement structural reforms, keeping in mind their social dimension and the need to deliver tangible benefits to the population.