Swedish Government provided about USD 30 mln to Moldova during ten years

From 1996 up to now, the Swedish Government provided about USD 30 mln to Moldova for funding 88 projects, of which 68 are completed, while another 20 underway. The projects aimed at strengthening human rights protection, democracy, good governance, public health, education, agriculture, energy, cadastre, infrastructure, transport and private sector etc. During the meeting with the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson, President Vladimir mentioned that Sweden is one of the most important donors of Moldova, while the activity of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is characterized by transparency, flexibility and openness to cooperation. Gunilla Carlsson stated that Sweden backs Moldova’s aspirations for European integration, mentioning that the two sates can enjoy a common future in the united Europe. As part of the meeting with the Swedish official, Speaker Marian Lupu stated that the adoption of the Strategy for Cooperation with Moldova for 2007-2010 by Sweden, whose assistance volume is estimated at EUR 11 mln annually, is very important. The Strategy aims at implementing reforms in three main sectors: good governance, consolidation of competitiveness in rural area and reduction of energy vulnerability. It was also mentioned that the signing in the next future of the trilateral Memorandum on cooperation between the Parliaments of Moldova, Sweden and Latvia regarding the Chisinau Parliament’s capacity for European integration and for adjusting the national legislation to the European standards will be a major step forward in the extension of the interparliamentary dialogue between the two states. Marian Lupu asked the Swedish authorities to examine the opportunity of a diplomatic mission of Sweden to Chisinau or its participation within the Common Visa Application Centre, which will soon open at the Embassy of Hungary in Chisinau.