EaP ambassadors reiterate EU support for reforms in Moldova

Chisinau, 24 October /MOLDPRES/- The results and prospects of Moldova’s participation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) were discussed on 23 October by Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu and ambassadors from the EU member states responsible for EaP, the MAEIE’s press service has reported.

The officials pointed out the EaP importance to bring the countries of the Eastern neighborhood closer to the European Union over the last ten years. Referring to the situation in Moldova, among the most notable successes they noted the liberalization of the visa regime with the EU, the signing of the Association Agreement which also includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, the implementation of projects that offer concrete benefits to citizens, the business environment, etc.

"The Eastern Partnership has significantly contributed to changing the dynamics of the economic development of the Republic of Moldova. Our country is the largest beneficiary of the Association Agreement. For comparison, exports to the EU in 2013-2018 increased by 60% for the Republic of Moldova, 20% for Ukraine and 9% for Georgia. In recent years, Moldovan exports to the post-Soviet area have decreased by 500 million euros, and in the EU they have increased by 700 million euros. Our access to the European market not only compensated the losses on the Eastern market, but also provided an additional surplus of 200 million euros,” the official said.

For their part, the ambassadors reiterated the EU's support for the reforms initiated by the Moldovan government.

The delegation of Ambassadors with special missions for the Eastern Partnership is on a working visit to the Republic of Moldova on 22-25 October. This visit is organized under the aegis of the Presidency of Finland of the EU Council in the context of strengthening the Moldova-EU dialogue at bilateral and multilateral level.