Josep Borrell, at the end of Association Council meeting: "We are determined to implement a priority action plan for the Republic of Moldova"
The progress the Republic of Moldova has made during European integration and the implementation of the Association Agreement have been discussed today, February 7, at the seventh meeting of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council. The Moldovan PM, Natalia Gavrilița, reaffirmed, in Brussels, the Republic of Moldova’s aspirations to join the European Union and the determination of the Moldovan leadership to respect its commitments and to progress on the path of integration into the European Community space. On his turn, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, reviewed the support provided by the EU in 2022, assuring that Moldova will always be able to rely on European Union.
"Over the last year, we have increased our humanitarian aid and support for border management, helped you strengthen your energy security, raised the level of macro-financial assistance and introduced support measures in the field of transport and the economy. At the same time, we helped you in the field of security and defence. Thanks to our joint efforts, the Republic of Moldova is today more resilient and better prepared against challenges on the energy product markets", the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, told a press conference held jointly with Natalia Gavrilița.
According to the senior European official, the European Union is in the process of analysing the possibility of reducing the roaming fee between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova, assuring that the EU will support Moldova's efforts in modernising the payment system, in order to meet the necessary conditions for the integration into the single European area of payments in euros.
"We promise to create a priority action plan for the Republic of Moldova, which will allow us to advance in the free trade area and speed up the access of Moldovan people to the EU market. (…) Since the last Association Council, we have granted the Republic of Moldova over one billion euros in assistance. The economic and investment plan still has great potential, which must be explored to support your reform program. We encourage the Republic of Moldova to explore it to the maximum", the high European official concluded.
On the other hand, the Moldovan PM thanked the European community for the support given to our country during this period, full of crises. The Premier reiterated, in Brussels, the commitment of the Moldovan leadership to bring the Republic of Moldova into the European Union, as the only country’s path to prosperity.
"We emphasised our irreversible commitment to the European path and talked about the state of the reforms. We are undertaking to be able to move to the next stage - the start of EU accession negotiations. (…) The EU is not only a partner in the reform process, but also the main economic partner. We are determined to boost our economic relations. (…) I repeat that in the Republic of Moldova all three institutions: the Presidency, the Government and the Parliament are aligned with European values, firmly committed to make the EU integration process irreversible, as it means the peace and prosperity of the Moldovan society", stated Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița.
Brussels hosted today the seventh meeting of the EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council. For the first time, this year, the Republic of Moldova was attending the event as a candidate state for joining the European Union.
