BTA: Ambassadors of Bulgaria, EU to Moldova Discuss EU Integration and Regional Development During Visit to Taraclia

Bulgarian Ambassador to Moldova Maya Dobreva and EU Ambassador Iwona Piorko visited Taraclia, where they held a series of meetings with students, local authorities, and community representatives.

A key focus of the visit was a meeting with students from the Taraclia branch of the University of Ruse as part of the “EU Talks – Europe Speaks” initiative, dedicated to presenting the European Union, educational opportunities, and prospects for young people. During the discussion, the diplomats explained the principles of EU’s functioning, opportunities for education and development, and shared their personal experiences with the European integration process.

“Our goal was to hold a discussion with the students on topics that interest them and to familiarize them with what the European Union represents, as well as to share our experience, since both of us come from countries that were not EU members 20 years ago, and how life has changed for us. I hope this was useful for the students,” said Dobreva after the meeting.

EU Ambassador Piorko said that the EU is implementing a Growth Plan in Moldova worth EUR 1.9 billion, aimed at supporting reforms in the country. According to her, the initiative is in its early stages, with the first reforms already being assessed, and the first funds expected to be disbursed soon. She emphasized that the plan covers all regions, including the southern part of the country, and provides support for projects in tourism and agriculture.

Piorko also pointed out that this was her first official visit to Taraclia since the start of her mandate in September last year and expressed satisfaction with the active dialogue with students and the local community. Before the meeting with students, the diplomats held discussions with the university’s administration and faculty.

Within the framework of the visit, the delegation took part in a ceremony laying flowers at the monument of Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski in the compound of the Vasil Levski Youth Centre, launched a culinary club at the centre, and visited the Children’s School of Arts in Taraclia.

At the Youth Center, a meeting was also held with mayors from settlements in the Taraclia district, during which topics such as territorial-administrative reform, demographic challenges, lack of jobs and the need to create employment through the establishment of new enterprises, as well as issues related to preserving cultural identity and regional development, were discussed.

The visit is part of initiatives under the Team Europe framework, aimed at dialogue with local communities, support for education, and sustainable regional development, the EU diplomatic mission in Moldova said. Some of the meetings were closed to the media.