The European Commission decided to increase the grant provided to Moldova for building the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline by €30 million and this will enable to put the gas pipeline into commission by the end of 2018, not 2019, as it was earlier planned, the Prime Ministers of Moldova and Romania announced in a joint news conference given after the limited-format meeting of the Governments of the two states that was held in Piatra Neamt on March 23, IPN reports.
“The energy security is one of the most important themes for Moldova, especially because we do not generate energy and only import it,” said the Moldovan Premier. Pavel Filip noted that Moldova will do its best for the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline to be ready by the end of 2018. “Things go as planned. We will soon start the construction works.”
Pavel Filip also said that Moldova’s connection to the European energy market is very important for ensuring the country’s energy security. “I express my gratitude for the assistance offered in building the Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline and reiterate the interest in developing further this project by extending the Iasi-Ungheni pipeline to Chisinau, on Moldova’s territory, and up to Onesti in Romania. It is also important to continue the project to connect the Moldovan energy system to the Romanian and European ones,” he stated.
The Prime Minister thanked the Government of Romania for the support provided by disbursing the second tranche of the €150 million loan and for the recent decision to donate 96 school buses to Moldova. He assured that the Republic of Moldova is firmly committed to implement the Association Agreement with the EU and continues to consider the integration into the EU as a country project, regardless of particular views existing in Chisinau. Pavel Filip noted that in accordance with the Constitution, the Government and Parliament enjoy more powers than the President and highlighted that the relations between Moldova and Romania will not change in spite of the pro-Russian views of the President.
For his part, Sorin Grindeanu said that Romania wants its investment presence to be strengthened in Moldova and to be part of the eventual privatization processes. Romania will continue to support Moldova in its European integration efforts. “It is important to focus on concrete, realistic and tangible projects because we think that only the European option can bring sustainable answers to the expectations of stability of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. That’s why we are ready to continue to support the Republic of Moldova on this path,” stated the Romanian Premier.
As it was agreed in the March 23 meeting, the next meeting of the governments will take place in Chisinau.
