Romania supports Moldova's economic integration; Romanian president says Romania to continue to support Moldova's integration into European Union, integration of two economies

President of Romania Nicusor Dan has reaffirmed Bucharest’s firm support for the European path of Moldova, during the Romania Government Roundtable Conference. The Romanian head of state emphasized that the relationship with   Moldova stayed a strategic priority, including through the deepening of the economic cooperation between the two countries.

“Moldova is and will remain an important priority for Romania. We will continue to support its integration into the European Union and the integration of the two economies,” Nicusor Dan said.

In his speech, the official also highlighted the economic progress achieved by Romania after joining the European Union, noting the significant reduction of the development gap compared to advanced states.

“Romania’s accession to the European Union was a great success story. Our country had a historical gap compared to the developed countries, which it has considerably reduced. In the year 2000, Romania had only 26 per cent of the EU average GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita, and today we have reached almost 80 per cent. It is important to underline these aspects, because the constant bombardment of negative news makes us lose sight of the bigger picture,” Dan said.

At the same time, the president of Romania pointed out more essential directions for future development, including institutional reform, accession to the OECD and adoption of the euro.

Nicusor Dan also advocated for a stronger European Union from an economic standpoint, capable of maintaining a balance between competitiveness and cohesion, so as to reduce development disparities between member states.

At the same conference, Romania’s Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan underlined the strategic importance of the European Union’s eastern region in the current security context.

“The Eastern Border of the European Union will remain, for many years, the most important border of the Union. From an economic, military and defense perspective, this border, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, is essential,” the  Romanian PM said.

He stressed the need to simultaneously strengthen both military and economic security:

“The Eastern Border can be better reinforced, if there is a combination of military and economic security, because one does not work without the other.”

According to Bolojan, economic development is closely linked to security: “No area that does not have a certain level of security will benefit from massive investments that can generate prosperity for its residents.”

The Romanian prime minister also called for the continuation of the European Union’s enlargement process, which he considers essential for the competitiveness of the European bloc:

“The EU enlargement is not just an act of generosity, but an important strategic decision. It is an investment in the development of the EU and an important step towards a stronger European Union.”

These statements come in the context of the constant support expressed by the Romanian leadership for Moldova, both politically and economically, throughout its European integration process.