The Republic of Moldova will continue strengthening cooperation with the European Union in the fields of internal affairs, defense and security, with increased emphasis on training and financial support. The EU supports Moldova in the context of the difficult energy situation and increasing gas and electric power prices and assists in the process of increasing energy efficiency, Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, stated in the meetings he had in Brussels, IPN reports.

With the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Vice-President of the European Commission, Nicu Popescu discussed the dramatic impact of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the consequences for the Republic of Moldova, especially the weaknesses in the energy sector and the reform agenda of the Republic of Moldova on its path of European modernization.

In the discussion with the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Stefano Sannino, the interlocutors discussed the building of Moldova’s resilience in terms of cybersecurity, fighting of disinformation and strengthening of cooperation within the European Peace Facility.

“We agreed to extend the High-Level Political and Security Dialogue, the Moldova-EU cooperation in foreign policy, security and defense so as to build our institutions’ resilience. With the secretary general, we exchanged opinions on the organization of the Summit of the European Political Community that our country will host next spring,” stated Nicu Popescu, being quoted in a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

The Deputy Premier also discussed with Maciej Popowski, acting Director-General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, conferring on the situation in the Republic of Moldova and the assistance needs for 2022 - 2023, including in the energy sector. Nicu Popescu said the Moldovan authorities appreciate the support of the EIB that finances projects that bring about concrete results in people’s lives and the European officials’ readiness to take an active part in the donors’ conference Moldova Support Platform that will take place in Paris in November.

On October 13 in Luxemburg, the minister met with his Luxembourgian counterpart Jean Asselborn with whom he discussed the bilateral cooperation agenda, the European integration and reform process in the Republic of Moldova and the regional situation influenced by Russia’s war against Ukraine.