Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, said that Moldova is at a crucial stage in its trip towards a more united and thriving Europe. “I am deeply grateful to all those who support this mission. We continue cooperating so as to make tangible progress and build a better future for our citizens,” the official stated in an event staged in New York by USAID, IPN reports.
In the event entitled “Countering Corruption and the Opportunity to Accelerate the Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and Moldova”, Nicu Popescu enumerated the results achieved by Moldova in implementing the nine recommendations put forward by the European Commission, including in fighting corruption and building the rule of law. He underlined the importance of the international community’s support for Moldova’s firm objective to join the EU.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Moldovan official had a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. The interlocutors discussed important aspects of regional security amidst Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the current stage of the Transnistrian settlement process and the progress made on the path of European integration. “We assessed the Republic of Moldova’s cooperation with the OSCE and its institutions, emphasizing the importance of continuing the OSCE’s mission in our country,” stated Nicu Popescu.
The Deputy Premier also discussed with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen. He expressed his gratitude to Finland for its firm commitment to supporting Moldova’s European course, underscoring the importance of continuous support in this regards. The diplomats also conferred on issues related to cooperation in regional security, renewable energy and sustainable development.
Nicu Popescu chaired the informal meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of member states of the Central European Initiative (CEI) given that the Republic of Moldova holds the CEI presidency. “I noted that the joining of the EU by the candidate states from the ICE is the key priority of the presidency of the Republic of Moldova. The accession by new states to the EU will bring benefits to the citizens of the CEI member states and to the whole region. The discussions also underlined the necessity of meetings in this regional format and the importance of a constant multilateral dialogue, especially in the current geopolitical context,” stated the Moldovan official, noting they also discussed the importance of the projects that are under implementation or approval, including those that imply support for Ukraine.
