The Prime Minister of Romania Marcel Ciolacu reaffirmed the political and technical support for the Republic of Moldova’s integration into European Union. According to the official, obtaining the opening of accession negotiations with the EU at the European Council’s meeting of this December is a priority now. The issue was developed in a meeting with President Maia Sandu, who is paying a visit to Bucharest, IPN reports.

Presdient Sandu left for Romania to take part in the Three Seas Initiative Summit that this year is hosted by the neighboring state. “Romania firmly supports Chisinau’s request to associate itself with this cooperation format that refers, among others, to the identification of concrete methods for engaging the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in projects designed to increase the level of interconnectivity in the energy, transport and digital sectors in the region,” stated Marcel Ciolacu.

In a press release, the Government of Romania said the two officials conferred on the current stage of the bilateral relations and approved of the excellent level of cooperation. Marcel Ciolacu said that Romania recently transferred the first tranche of €10 million for financing priority projects based on the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on the implementation of the technical and financial assistance program to the value of €100 million. The first tranche will be used to purchase school minibuses and to implement infrastructure and local development (water supply, sewerage, etc.) projects.

“President Maia Sandu thanked Romania for the support offered to the Republic of Moldova at bilateral level and in the current security context caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and underscored the importance of continuing cooperation, primarily in the energy sector, given the approaching winter season,” runs the press release.