Moldovan, Romanian officials broach bilateral ties, EU integration

Chisinau, 1 December /MOLDPRES/- Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman today met Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, on a visit to Moldova, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s communication and media relations service has reported.

Aurescu expressed confidence that the pro-European parties would ensure continuity of Moldova’s European integration, taking into account the option voiced by Moldovans within the 30 November parliamentary elections. Gherman congratulated the Romanian counterpart on the occasion of his appointment, as well as Romania’s National Day.

The sides approached the ascendant dynamics of the bilateral political dialogue, which denoted the strategic importance of the privileged relation between the two countries. Also, the officials welcomed the significant increase in the economic exchanges, Romania becoming the first trade partner of Moldova. At the same time, they highly appreciated the projects implemented via the development assistance programmes, recently being signed four memoranda on providing financial assistance grants worth 7 million euros.

The two officials reiterated the need to strengthen the energy security by diversifying the ways of supplying energy resources.

An important issue on the agenda was related to Moldova’s European integration. Gherman thanked the Romanian side for backing liberalisation of visa regime and provisional enforcement of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement. “Turning to good accounts all benefits provided by the Free Trade Area and respectively, achieving the economic integration into the EU market, represent a priority for our country”, Gherman said. She appreciated Romania’s support for liberalisation of access of Moldovan products to the EU market.