Romania reaffirms support for Moldova; Romanian PM, after meeting with Moldovan counterpart, says Romania to continue to be main supporter of Moldova at EU level

Romania’s support for Moldova stays firm and the joint projects carried out by the authorities of the two states are meant to improve citizens’ lives, encourage economic development, investment and bilateral trade, and bring Moldova closer to the European Union. Romania’s interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has made statements to this effect, during a press conference held together with Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, on a visit to Bucharest today.

Ilie Bolojan underlined that the fact Vasile Tofan chose Romania for his first official visit after taking office was a symbolic gesture that once again confirms the special nature of the relationship between Romania and Moldova.

“Romania’s support for Moldova remains firm, I assured him of this,” said Ilie Bolojan.

He added that the talks with Vasile Tofan focused, among other things, on the bilateral cooperation agenda and joint projects aimed at improving people’s lives and bringing Moldova closer to the EU.

“We have projects in such areas as energy, transport, education, culture and the environment, as well as joint actions that we must see through to completion. Everything we do together is meant to improve the lives of our citizens, to encourage economic development, investment and bilateral trade and to bring Moldova closer to the European Union,” said Ilie Bolojan.

At the same time, the official stressed that “the most important joint strategic project is advancing the process of European integration of Moldova” and gave assurances that Romania is ready to share its experience in this process.

“Romania will continue to be the main supporter of Moldova at the level of the European Union, making available the experience accumulated as a member state and providing political and diplomatic support,” said Romanian PM noted.

According to him, Moldova has already achieved very good results in this process, with the start of accession negotiations for Cluster 1, Fundamental Values, and Cluster 6, External Relations.

“We hope that, by the end of this year, at the level of the European Union, the necessary political decisions will be taken to open negotiations on the other four clusters,” added Ilie Bolojan.

At the same time, the officials reviewed the joint strategic projects, with an emphasis on interconnection in the fields of transport and energy.

“Colleagues from the Energy Ministry are coordinating with their counterparts of Moldova to find the best solutions to overcome the difficulties generated by the current security context. We are facing both an electricity crisis and a fuels crisis. We discussed the construction of two new 400 kV interconnection lines, Suceava–Balti and Gutinas–Straseni. In the spring, the Romanian government approved declaring the section on Romania’s territory a project of national importance regarding the electricity transmission network,” said Romania’s prime minister.

In the field of infrastructure, Ilie Bolojan said that work on the Ungheni Bridge, the first highway-level bridge built at European standards, which will connect Moldova to the European transport network via Romania, would be completed by the end of this year.

“Romania has obtained significant funding through the SAFE programme to connect this bridge to the A8 motorway, and as part of the project there will also be infrastructure works in Moldova, including the first highway segment built at European standards. We are also making progress in terms of rail infrastructure. In April, the Falciu–Cantemir line was tested. Through this connection, Romania and Moldova are restoring an important rail border crossing point,” Ilie Bolojan pointed out.

The regional and international situation was another topic addressed during the talks in Bucharest.

“We also discussed, of course, issues related to the regional and international situation, marked by major challenges and threats in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. We have a shared assessment of the hostile objectives of the Russian Federation and of their effects on neighboring states. I mention, among other things, the repeated violations of Romania’s airspace in recent times. Similar situations have been recorded in Moldova. We firmly condemn the continuation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as any actions violating the airspace or maritime space of our states,” stressed Ilie Bolojan.

In concluding his message, Ilie Bolojan congratulated Vasile Tofan for his courage in taking on the responsibility of becoming prime minister.

“I congratulated Vasile Tofan because, after an important career he built in the field of international business, he agreed to assume this responsibility which, as you know, is not easy for any prime minister, neither in Romania nor in Moldova. The fact that he has put on the line the credibility he built over many years for the sake of Moldova is to be appreciated. I congratulated him and I am convinced that he will be successful in the reforms that Moldova needs,” concluded Ilie Bolojan.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan is paying a visit to Bucharest today, this being his first foreign visit since taking office.