Moldovan foreign affairs ministry says leadership to closely cooperate with Spanish Presidency of EU Council for accelerated European integration

Chisinau, 25 January /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu on 23-24 January paid a working visit to Spain, at an invitation by his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.  

According to the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) press service, the officials’ discussions were focused on:   

·   Accession to the European Union

„We will closely cooperate with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which starts on 1 July, with the main goal - accelerated European integration and delivery of reforms in the justice sector, fighting corruption, strengthening of the democracy and the administrative capacities and the economy’s modernization,’’ Deputy PM Nicu Popescu said.  

·   Regional security

As response to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, we firmly condemned the Russian military aggression and the infringement of the international law. Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu discussed with his counterpart the challenges faced by Moldova because of this brutal war, especially in the energy sector, cyber security and the hybrid threats. Moldova continues the humanitarian effort, by hosting Ukrainian refugees, contributing to the Ways of solidarity and regional stability.      

·   Bilateral dialogue

The sides agreed on enhancing the dialogue in the commercial and economic field through the organization of missions of business people, boosting contacts between the foreign affairs ministries on the European affairs dimension, defence ministries and interior ministries on the dimension of security and resilience.

We will promote, along with the Spanish side, initiatives for the benefit of our citizens – entrance into force of the agreement in the social sector, signing, in the long run, of the agreement on the conversion of driver’s licences and continuing the discussions on roaming’s liberalization.  

At the visit, Minister Nicu Popescu signed a memorandum of understanding between the Diplomatic Institute of Moldova and the Diplomatic School of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.     

In Madrid, the Moldovan diplomacy head met President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet Lamaña, the head of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Congress of Deputies, Pau Mari Klose, and other high-ranking officials of the Spanish parliament.    

The Moldovan official appreciated the active parliamentary diplomacy between legislative bodies from Chisinau and Madrid, including following a recent visit by a Spanish delegation, hosted by Moldova’s parliament.   

„I welcomed the adoption by the Congress of Deputies, in late last December, of a resolution on the support of Moldova, which reaffirms Spain’s full solidarity with Moldova, including the political support for the implementation of the reforms needed, which allow the meeting of the criteria and conditions necessary for the advancement in the European integration process in key fields, such as the judiciary reform, fight against corruption and consolidation of the state’s administrative capacities,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.   

In the context of the present regional security environment, Deputy PM Nicu Popescu in Madrid discussed the reform of the defence sector with Spain’s Deputy Defence Minister, Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez.   

„We referred to the strengthening of the cooperation with the European Union in the security and defence sector, through continuing the high-level political and security dialogue Moldova – European Union, implementation of projects through the European Peace Facility (EPF).    

I welcomed the Spanish side’s willingness to develop Moldova’s defence capacities,’’ Foreign Affairs Minister Nicu Popescu said.

On the sidelines of the working visit to Madrid, Foreign Affairs Minister Nicu Popescu discussed with Director of Diplomatic School of Spain Santiago Miralles Huete the deepening of the cooperation with the Diplomatic Institute of Moldova, including the training of Moldovan diplomats and exchange of experience with Spanish partners in the process of professionalization of diplomatic staff, especially on the European integration dimension.   

Also, Deputy PM Nicu Popescu delivered a lecture to students of the Diplomatic School, during which he referred to the process of Moldova’s integration into the European Union, the Moldovan authorities’ agenda of reforms, aimed at transforming and modernizing Moldova, as well as the consequences of Russia’s aggression war against Ukraine for Moldova.  

„I was glad to answer questions of future Spanish diplomats and hear perspectives of these young people on the Moldovan-Spanish dialogue and the future of Europe,’’ the Moldovan official noted.    

In the capital of Spain, the Moldovan official also met the director of the European Union Satellite Centre (SATCEN), Sorin Ducaru, and the Centre’s team.   

„Moldova is interested in developing the cooperation with more agencies of the European Union, in the general context of deepening of the Dialogue in the security field, for the benefit of our citizens.

Due to the cooperation with SATCEN, Moldova will be able to consolidate its capacities of analysis of the situation in the present security environment,’’ the Moldovan diplomacy head stressed.

At the same time, the Moldovan official participated in a workshop organized by the European Council on Foreign Relations, on the subject of the European Political Community, hosted by Moldova on 1 June.  

„I said that, in the same spirit of pan-European cooperation, Moldova next summer will host the second summit, which will bring together the leaders on the European continent, in order to discuss subjects of strategic importance for the entire Europe: cyber security, energy solidarity and connectivity for citizens’ benefit,’’ Foreign Affairs Minister Nicu Popescu said.      

Deputy PM Nicu Popescu and representatives of Moldova’s Diaspora from Spain discussed the longing for the native country, the authorities’ effort to preserve peace, stability and the direction of integration into the European Union, as well as the very good cooperation with Spain.   

„The Moldovans from Spain proved that they represent a bridge of friendship, of our strong relations in the economic, social and cultural fields, contributing to Moldova’s development through investments, as well as transfer of experience,’’ Foreign Affairs Minister Nicu Popescu added.