Moldova enjoys support of international community in advancement on European way

Chisinau, 15 July /MOLDPRES/ - Romania’s capital hosts the second Ministerial Conference of the Moldova Support Platform. The event was co-chaired by Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Foreign Affairs Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships of France Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. Moldova was represented at the Conference by an important ministerial delegation, led by Labour and Social Protection Minister Marcel Spatari, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.        

In the beginning of the event, President Maia Sandu gave an online speech, in which she thanked the development partners for the support provided to Moldova to overcome all current obstacles.  

„I am grateful to all those 36 states and 10 international organizations which assembled at this Conference and the assistance promised to our country shows that Moldova is not alone before the challenges faced. Moldova needs the support of partners for strengthening the energy independence, to ensure the food security, to consolidate the transport and security infrastructure, so that we advance on our European way,’’ Maia Sandu stressed.     

The goal of the Conference is to mobilize, concentrate and coordinate the political, technical, financial support of the developed countries for Moldova. Thus, the Moldova Support Platform is an instrument of backing the Moldovan authorities’ efforts to overcome the crises faced and, at the same time, it has the role to support the successful implementation of the reforms necessary for the state’s modernization and consolidating the resilience of its institutions.  

At the closing conference, the Romanian diplomacy head, Bogdan Aurescu, said that Moldova was in the focus of the international community and that the support of Moldova’s stability and its European integration was essential.

„This conference is held 3 weeks after Moldova was declared state candidate for EU and the Platform is a support needed for the technical and financial backing of the reforms coming next. We everybody know that the war in Ukraine triggered serious crises and major economic losses for Moldova. Or today, through this Conference, we managed to collect a significant contribution for supporting Moldova. We must continue and even boost the support for the citizens from beyond the Prut river and Moldova should feel that it is not alone before the problems it has and of the reforms it will carry out,’’ Bogdan Aurescu said.    

German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed the importance of supporting Moldova in its efforts to cope with the crises and join the great European family. ‘’It is crucial that we remain united in these difficult times. Germany plans to provide a grant worth up to 77 million euros for Moldova’s development and to back the citizens hit by the energy vulnerability. We will also provide additional financial support to back the refugees and their families. It is essential that we take care of the refugees’ children and integrate them in the education institutions from Moldova,’’ Annalena Baerbock said.  

Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships of France Chrysoula Zacharopoulou reconfirmed the substantial support provided by France to Moldova. ‘’France values the friendship it has with Moldova and will support the authorities in the management of the crisis in the energy sector, the gas one, food security, as well as regarding the refugees’ issue. We will provide technical and financial assistance where it is mostly necessary, including in agriculture,’’ Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said.    

Labour and Social Protection Minister Marcel Spatari welcomed the decisions taken at the event held in Bucharest and offered appreciations to all those who are fully involved in backing Moldova.

„On behalf of my government colleagues and of Moldova’s citizens, I express high gratitude for the assistance provided to our country by the participants in the today’s conference. This is, beyond all doubt, a strong signal of solidarity given in quite difficult times. We remain firmly anchored in our goal of European accession and we undertake all measures necessary to combat the economic, energy crisis, as well as to provide every support needed by those 77,000 refugees who found shelter in Moldova. We welcome the creation of the task force for the reform of the public administration and public money management. We commit to foster the work within it, so that we record significant progress till the next Conference, due in Paris,’’ Marcel Spatari said.  

The first Ministerial Conference of the Moldova Support Platform took place in Germany on 5 April 2022. The next edition is scheduled to be held in France till the end of this year.   

Photo: Government