Moldovan foreign affairs minister has meetings in Brussels

Chisinau, 15 October /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu in Brussels on 14 October had meetings with European Commission’s Vice President, the head of the European diplomacy Josep Borrell. The officials discussed the dramatic impact of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the consequences for Moldova, especially the vulnerabilities in the energy sector, as well as the reforms’ agenda on the country’s way of European modernization.    

According to the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service, the Moldovan official had meetings with:   

Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the European External Action Service:

„We agreed on the deepening, on the sidelines of the high-level political and security dialogue, of the Moldova-EU cooperation in the field of the foreign, security and defence policy, in order to enhance the resilience of the Moldovan institutions.   

I and the secretary general exchanged opinions on the organization of the Summit of the European Political Community, which Moldova is to host next spring,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.  

The interlocutors referred to concrete actions for strengthening Moldova’s resilience, especially as regards the cyber security, combating the misinformation and consolidating the cooperation within the EU’s Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace. 

Frédéric Bernard, Head of Cabinet of the European Council’s President:   

„We referred to Moldova’s preparations for hosting the second meeting of the European Political Community, with the summit due to be hosted in Chisinau being a sign of strong support which we value,’’ Deputy PM Nicu Popescu said.   

The energy security and the accessibility of energy resources represented another subject discussed with the European official.   

Fernando Guimaraes, member of the Cabinet of the European Commission’s president:   

The officials discussed the actions taken by the Moldovan authorities to carry out the action plan for the implementation of the measures suggested by the European Commission in its Note on the application on Moldova’s accession to the European Union. Also, the Moldovan diplomacy head referred to the assistance provided by EU in the present energy crisis triggered by Russia’s unjust war in Ukraine, as well as to the actions Moldova is undertaking to rationalize the consumption of energy resources.      

Maciej Popowski, Deputy Director-General and Acting Director-General of the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy of the European Commission:  

During the discussion, the officials exchanged opinions on the situation in Moldova, the needs of assistance for 2022-2023, including in the energy sector; in this respect, the Moldovan official thanked for the budgetary support worth 75 million euros, provided to Moldova.  

The European Union continues to support Moldova, in the context of the difficult energy situation, high prices for gas and electricity for the most vulnerable citizens, as well as for the country’s process of improving the energy efficiency.   

„We will strengthen, in continuation, the cooperation in the field of domestic affairs, defence and security, with enhanced emphasis on trainings and financial support,’’ Deputy PM Nicu Popescu said.    

Mikołaj Dowgilevich, Deputy Secretary General of the European Investment Bank:  

„I appreciated the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB), which finances projects bringing concrete changes in people’s lives: drinking water, transport, agriculture, development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, energy efficiency. We referred to the continuation of the cooperation with EIB for important projects in the energy sector, which are to reduce the resistance to fossil fuels and diminish the energy invoices.    

I appreciated the European officials’ willingness to actively participate in the works of the Moldova Support Platform Donor Conference, due in Paris in next November,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.   

At the same time, the Moldovan official, along with Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii, Ambassador Daniela Morari and the ambassadors of the Political and Security Committee in Brussels discussed Moldova’s efforts to enhance the resilience, attenuate the impact of the war in Ukraine and find solutions to the energy crisis faced by the country.

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu on 14 October paid a visit to Brussels, in order to promote Moldova’s European integration agenda.