The Republic of Moldova, for the first time as a candidate state, at the EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: “We will speed up the transformation of countries in order not to get closer to the EU”
The meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs from the European Union in the Gymnich format took place on Wednesday, August 31, in Prague, Czech Republic, where Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu also went. It is the first meeting in this format in which the Republic of Moldova participated as a future member state of the EU. In his speech, the minister spoke about “our common challenges and concerns in the context of the new geopolitical reality after the unjustified military aggression of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which has a profound impact on our regions and countries.”
“We appreciate the cooperation with the European Union through European Peace Facilities and the support offered to strengthen our country’s resilience in the field of defense and security, from which we will also benefit in the future.
I noted in the context the urgent need not to admit the transformation of nuclear power plants into a theater of war and to ensure strict monitoring by the experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency. We are a community of countries that share the same values of democracy, freedom, the rule of law and adherence to the rules-based international order,” said Nicu Popescu.
“We pointed out recent concrete actions through which we are in solidarity with Ukraine, including by providing solidarity bands for grain and fuel, the restoration of the Basarabeasca – Berezino railway section after two months of work, the facilitation of the transport of goods between Moldova and Ukraine, the constant care . of our refugee authorities,” added the deputy prime minister.
Popescu also spoke about how the Government is working to solve the energy crisis and takes the other ministers that the Republic of Moldova will accelerate “the pace of transformation in order not to get closer to the EU and bring concrete benefits to the citizens”.
“Like everyone else in Europe, our country is preparing for a difficult winter amid the ongoing war and uncertainty of energy supplies. I informed my European colleagues that the government team is working to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis and advocated for further deepening of energy integration. I assured my counterparts in the EU that we will continue to work to minimize the impact of the war and contribute to regional stability”, stated the Deputy Prime Minister.
The informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union in the Gymnich format was hosted by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavský, in the context of holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, Minister Nicu Popescu and being invited together with my counterparts from Ukraine and Georgia.
Subscribe to the TV8.md Telegram page to stay up to date: t.me/tv8md