Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu is on an official visit to Rome
The bilateral relations between the Republic of Moldova and Italy and the progress of the Republic of Moldova in the process of integration into the European Union, in the great European family, are discussed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Nicu Popescu, and the authorities in Rome. Today, Nicu Popescu will have a discussion with Italy's Minister for European Affairs, Raffaelle Fitto, Radio Romania News reports.
Also, the discussions with the Italian officials aim at deepening bilateral relations, boosting the process of accession to the European Union and social protection measures for the Moldovan diaspora in Italy.
"We are discussing on the modernization, reforms to maintain socio-economic stability bilaterally, how we improve and boost trade exchanges, attract investments, create jobs, create better conditions for our diaspora, and we have concrete projects, including with Italy", revealed Nicu Popescu.
Italy is one of the most important political and economic partners for our country, the Moldovan official emphasized. "We have many projects in common with Italy, both politically, we also had two teams of our soldiers, who together with their Italian partners ensure the maintenance of peace in difficult regions of the world, in Lebanon, in Kosovo. So we have a very good partnership with the Ministry of Defense. Italy is one of the biggest trading partners. Last year, we had commercial exchanges of around 800 million euros. For Moldova, it is a very high figure", declared the head of diplomacy from Chisinau.
"We have an enormous diaspora, very well integrated, very active in Italy. So, these days, we are almost finishing the entry into force of some provisions for the social protection of our fellow citizens who have worked or are currently working in Italy." Last night, the head of diplomacy from Chisinau had a meeting with fellow citizens settled in the Italian capital, to find out their needs and expectations from the Moldovan state.
At the meeting with compatriots living in the Lazio region, the deputy prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs and European integration, Nicu Popescu, also referred to the programs dedicated to the diaspora in general.
"Starting from this year, we have reduced quite significantly a good part of the costs related to consular services, we have made our consular presence in several countries more fruitful with more staff, so that including the interaction of our fellow citizens with the state of the Republic of Moldova, with state institutions. We are also working on attracting airlines, because, obviously, it is much easier for everyone to fly directly and cheaper to Chisinau than through other more complicated methods", said Nicu Popescu.
The official also revealed that there are also many projects on the diaspora line, in particular he spoke about the social protection agreement, "which is to become effective in the very near future".
The meeting with the minister from the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Rome was also attended by Moldovan students who were impressed by the "interesting discussion".
Today, Nicu Popescu will have a meeting with Italian Minister for European Affairs Raffaelle Fitto.
