CHISINAU, Moldova — The European Union on Tuesday urged Moldova to reform its judiciary system and weed out corruption in order to secure the allocation of 550 million euros ($750 million) in aid.
According to the EU's 2011-13 program for Moldova, the country is due to carry out reforms that would curb corruption and improve the investment climate.
Proposed measures include strengthening local courts' independence and effectiveness and increasing respect for human rights on the part of prosecutors and police.
"The judicial reform is very important because Moldova's other sectors depend on it," Dirk Schuebel, head of the delegation of the European Union to Moldova, told reporters.
"This reform is a first step in fighting corruption. We will support this reform and we will provide direct financial support for Moldova's budget only if we see progress [in judicial reform]."
