Moldovan foreign minister attends annual Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting

Chisinau, 23 May /MOLDPRES/-Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Andrei Galbur participated in the seventh annual ministerial meeting of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), gathering the foreign ministers of EU and EaP states, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.

The meeting was chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, deputy chairman of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini. Attending the event was also Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

During his speech, Galbur touched upon Moldova’s agenda of reforms, sector cooperation and prospective view. He emphasized the need to consolidate the cooperation of Eastern partners amid internal vulnerabilities and external risks. The Moldovan minister voiced hope that the next EU Global Strategy in the security and foreign policy field would pay greater attention to stability in the Eastern neighbourhood area. He voiced interest in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) cooperation and counteracting hybrid threats.  

As for Moldova’s proposals in the field of sector cooperation, previously unveiled during the EaP, Galbur encouraged the promotion of collaboration ties with the EU in the transports and energy sectors, as well as initiatives aiming to boost up economic growth, draw investments and develop small and medium enterprises.

The Moldovan official called for a more active strategic communication, to provide Moldovan enterprises with more efficient information on the benefits the EaP is offering them. Galbur also spoke out for drafting a prospective political view for all the Eastern partners in the context of the EaP Summit due in 2017.

High Representative Federica Mogherini said a decision on the entry into force of the EU Association Agreements with Moldova and Georgia, starting from 1 July, would be approved during today’s meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

A meeting in narrow format between EaP foreign ministers and the EU High Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations was also held during the visit to Brussels. The officials focused on the regional security issue in particular.

The meeting was also a good opportunity for EU member-states and the six Eastern partners to exchange views and find a maximum amount of possibilities for member-states to participate in the initiatives and projects of the EaP.

(Editor A. Raileanu)