President Maia Sandu's visit to Paris strengthened the political and economic relations between Moldova and France and opened new opportunities for cooperation, the Moldovan President’s Office said. The talks with the French President Emmanuel Macron focused on regional security, restoration of peace in Europe and France's support for Moldova's modernization and European integration, IPN reports.
"President Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting projects that directly improve the lives of the Moldovan citizens," reads a press release.
Moldova and France signed three documents. These are the social protection agreement that will guarantee the rights of Moldovans in France, the €30 million financing agreement to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings in Moldova, and a letter of intent on cooperation in combating disinformation.
President Maia Sandu also met with the presidents of the two chambers of the French Parliament – Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, and Gérard Larcher, president of the Senate. Together with the Moldovan-French friendship groups, the officials underlined France's constant support for Moldova's European path, expressed by representatives from across the political spectrum. President Sandu also had a meeting with the mayor of France Anne Hidalgo, with whom she discussed the cooperation potential.
At the Moldovan-French business forum, organized on the occasion of the visit to Parus, the head of state sent a message to French investors, noting that Moldova is open for business: "I invite you to be part of our success. We are no longer just a small country on the edge of Europe. Moldova is an EU candidate state that aligns with European standards, reforms its economy and offers advantages to those who invest first."
The investments in the Moldovan economy were also the main topic discussed at the meetings with Rémy Rioux, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparco, and Jérémie Pellet, CEO of Expertise France. The three institutions are part of the AFD Group, which supports key projects for Moldova, including in the fields of energy, afforestation and SME financing.
The agenda also included a meeting with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and discussions on cooperation in culture and education, measures to protect the Gagauz language and culture. "The Gagauz language was included in the UNESCO list of languages in danger of extinction and the authorities in Chisinau are intensifying their efforts to ensure its survival,” assured Maia Sandu.
The President's visit to France reaffirmed the mutual commitment to strengthening the Moldovan-French partnership. In appreciation of the constant support provided to Moldova in the fields of European security and integration, the head of state signed decrees to confer the Order of Honor of the Republic of Moldova on Sébastien Lecornu, French Minister of the Armed Forces, and Laurence Boone, French Minister of State for Europe in 2022-2024.
