The authorities of Ireland and the Republic of Moldova are considering the signing of agreements in a number of areas: social protection, conversion of driver’s license, liberalization of roaming, recognition of diplomas and mutual protection of investments etc., Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, stated in a joint meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defense of Ireland  Simon Coveney, who is paying a visit to Chisinau, IPN reports.

Nicu Popescu said that Simon Coveney’s visit to Chisinau is a historic one. It is for the first time the past 19 years that an Irish foreign minister visits the Republic of Moldova and Ireland is the first EU member state whose official comes to Chisinau after Moldova was granted the EU candidate status. For the first time in the history of the Republic of Moldova, there will be constituted a Moldovan-Irish parliamentary friendship group.

The official noted the Republic of Moldova has yet a lot of work to do on the path of European integration, namely to enhance economic activity, to increase prosperity, to strengthen democracy and this can be done together with the European partners.

The impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is another subject that the foreign ministers of Ireland and Moldova discussed in Chisinau. In this regard, Nicu Popescu said that 78,000 Ukrainian citizens stay now in Moldova.

Simon Coveney said that Ireland will offer assistance in managing the refugee crisis. Russia’s aggression and brutality causes damage to the European continent. So far, 42,000 Ukrainian refugees reached Ireland.

Simon Coveney also said that Ireland is a firm supporter of the Republic of Moldova and it will continue supporting the country in the European integration process. “I’m eager to see Chisinau becoming a European capital like Dublin,” stated the Irish official.

According to the diplomat, there are about 40,000 Moldovans in Ireland at present.