Romania intends to extend the projects designed to support Moldova. An additional protocol to unlock the financial assistance provided by Romania to Moldova was signed in Chisinau, IPN reports.
The projects were discussed by Head of Parliament Andrian Candu and the Prime Minister of Romania Victor Ponta, who paid a visit to Chisinau. “With the investiture of the Government, which is supported by a pro-European parliamentary coalition in the implementation of reforms, will be continued and a series of projects supported financially by Romania will be extended. The accession of European funds for transfrontier projects is another priority in our bilateral relations,” stated Andrian Candu.
The official underlined the importance of disseminating a common message regarding the country’s European integration, which must be promoted by Moldova and Romania before the external development partners. Andrian Candu expressed readiness to organize common events at legislature level, with the Parliament of Romania and the European Parliament.
Victor Ponta reiterated Romania’s willingness to unconditionally support Moldova’s European integration and the implementation of policies aimed at developing the country. “Romania will further support Moldova so that the initiated projects are continued and new ones are started in areas that Chisinau considers more important. Every time we come to Moldova we want to find you in a better state and to see developments,” said the Romanian Premier.
The Romanian official also met with Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet. The two Premiers discussed possibilities of strengthening the bilateral relations and the European integration agenda of Moldova.
“I want to note that this is the third consecutive visit paid by Prime Minister Ponta on the Independence Day of Moldova. This shows once again that Romania consistently supports our state, contributing remarkably to the realization of our wish to become a modern European state,” Valeriu Strelet said in a news conference held after the meeting with his Romanian counterpart.
The Premier noted that Romania became the main foreign trade partner of Moldova, while the bilateral commercial-economic relations develop positively. “We hope to achieve the objective of aligning Moldova with the European standards and values by modernizing the country, eradicating corruption and strengthening the rule of law by common projects and actions,” he stated.
Victor Ponta invited the Cabinet of Moldova to stage a common meeting of the Governments in Tulcea in the near future and reiterated his readiness to help the Moldovan Government prepare for the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
Valeriu Strelet and Victor Ponta signed an additional protocol to unlock the financial assistance offered by Romania to Moldova. The document refers to the agreement on the implementation of the technical and financial assistance program with the €100 million provided by Romania in support. The protocol extends the term of the agreement for a four-year period as the non-reimbursable financial assistance hadn’t been fully used by March 27, 2015.
The President of Moldova Nicolae Timofti also had a meeting with the Romanian Premier, where he pleaded for intensifying the bilateral cooperation for finalizing joint infrastructure and other kinds of projects. He noted that from political viewpoint, the conditions are now optimal for bringing the Governments and the people from the two sides of the Prut River closer. He also said that the largest part of the Moldovan products exported to the EU over the last few years went to Romania.
Victor Ponta said the Cabinet he heads and the whole Romanian political class supports Moldova by all ways. “When it is about supporting Moldova, we are united,” he stated.
Nicolae Timofti and Victor Ponta also discussed Moldova’s European course, the regional situation and the developments in the Transnistrian region.
