Visegrad Group expresses full support for Moldova's European course

Chisinau, 6 March /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici today met the deputy foreign ministers of the Visegrad (V4) Group countries. The delegation includes Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sramek, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Pawlik, Slovak Deputy Foreign Minister Peter Burian, and Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Istvan Mikola, on a two-day visit to Moldova, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The sides discussed priority items on the reform agenda in the context of Moldova's European integration, preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, as well as developments in the region.

The premier praised the consistent support the V4 Group countries offered Moldova. Chiril Gaburici said that the government's priorities related to the implementation of the provisions of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement, including the fight against corruption, justice reform, financial stability and economic growth. "We are firmly convinced that European integration is the only way to achieve the set objectives and we will make every effort to continue the process started for this purpose. Thus, the assistance and expertise of our partners is very important and valuable for us", said the prime minister.

For their part, the European officials welcomed the fact that European integration remained a priority of the Moldovan government. They stressed the importance of achieving concrete results in implementing reforms and expressed full support for Moldova's European integration path. "It is important to turn into account all the opportunities of the Association Agreement, especially the part on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), for increasing trade and investment exchanges between Moldova and the EU," said the officials.

The Visegrad Group is an informal regional cooperation meeting, which includes four Central European countries. After the V4 countries became members of the EU in 2004, the Visegrad Group transitioned into a platform of experience exchange and development of common positions on key issues for the future of the region and the EU.

(Editor M. Jantovan)