Moldovan foreign affairs minister meets Italian counterpart; progress in European integration process on agenda

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi today had a meeting with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani in Trieste. The discussions focused on recent developments in the bilateral relationship and on the progress made by Moldova in the European integration process.

Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi expressed his gratitude for Italy’s constant support for Moldova’s European path, as well as for its contribution to strengthening institutional resilience and implementing reforms. In the context, he welcomed the opening, on 12 June 2025, of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) office in Chisinau, which will strengthen development cooperation between the two states.

“We discussed the good relations between our countries, the progress made by Moldova on the path of European integration and the deepening of the Moldovan-Italian partnership. Italy is one of the most important economic partners of Moldova and the fourth largest investor. Therefore, we also talked about signing the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, which will help attract Italian investors to Moldova. Italy is among the main economic partners, with approximately 1,100 companies active in our country,” stated Mihai Popsoi.

The two ministers noted the advanced level of the bilateral political dialogue and the concrete results recently achieved for the benefit of the citizens of both states, including the entry into force of the bilateral Agreement on Social Protection on 1 September 2025 and the application of the new version of the Agreement on the Conversion of Driving Licences, starting from 8 November 2025.

Minister Mihai Popsoi extended an invitation to his Italian counterpart to participate in the Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, scheduled for May 14-15, 2026, an event organized in the context of Moldova holding the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi pays a working visit today to Trieste, Italy. The official took part in the high-level conference, organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative.