Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta assured Moldovan Premier Valeriu Strelet of the Romanian Government’s assistance in doing reforms, implementing the Association Agreement with the EU and continuing the European agenda. The two officials had a telephone discussion and conferred on the bilateral cooperation, the European integration process and the implementation of joint energy projects, IPN reports, quoting the press service of the Government of Moldova.

Valeriu Strelet expressed his gratitude for Romania’s assistance and involvement in the process of modernizing Moldova and meeting the European standards. He underlined the necessity of implementing energy projects, especially the one to extend the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, and other projects to interconnect the natural gas and electric power networks.

The two Premiers agreed to have a bilateral meeting in the nearest future. The last visit by the Romanian Premier Victor Ponta to Chisinau was paid this May.

In 2014 Romania became Moldova’s main trade partner. Last year Romania allocated over US$70 million to Moldova for assistance projects. It is the third largest donor, after the U.S. and the EU.