We have just finished a summit between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova.
It is our second summit and could not have come at a better moment, just one week after Moldova reached a historic milestone on its journey to the European Union, with the opening of the first cluster of accession negotiations.
I want to start by congratulating you, Madame President, for your work that made this possible. You have shown remarkable courage and determination on Moldova’s European Union accession path. The people of Moldova have chosen Europe. And your resilience and your personal commitment are paying off.
The progress that Moldova has made to advance swiftly on its European Union path since it was granted candidate status is truly impressive. I encourage you to keep up the reform momentum, and advance Moldova’s alignment with the European Union acquis.
The decision by the Council to open negotiations on the first cluster reflects how our member states recognise your progress, as well as our commitment with the enlargement process to a strong and prosperous Moldova, as a future member of the European Union family. We will be with you every step of the way.
Looking back – it is truly remarkable how much our cooperation has grown in just a few years. But we want to achieve even more together. And this is what today’s Summit was about. Our meeting reflects the depth of our partnership.
From security and defence to boosting economic growth and trade, strengthening resilience, and fostering regional integration– the European Union’s cooperation with Moldova now spans all possible policy areas.
And gradual integration into the EU’s market is already bringing concrete benefits to your citizens. This is already true for the Single Euro Payments Area, allowing for cheaper bank transfers.
And for the ‘Roam like at home program’, reducing dramatically the phone bill for Moldovans travelling to the EU, and vice versa. This is especially important for young Moldovans, who will also benefit from the plans for a closer association to the Erasmus+ programme, investments in schools and the extension of the DiscoverEU Rail Pass to young travellers from Moldova.
Most importantly, underpinning all our economic efforts, the Growth Plan is delivering tangible results and will keep on supporting the key investments projects across the country. And I am sure that Ursula will share more details on this key element.
Our partnership is mutually beneficial. Moldova’s expertise in countering hybrid threats has already benefited other countries. The EU Partnership Mission on the ground is doing a great job in strengthening your institutions against foreign interference, and it has served as a model for our new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia.
Thank you, President Sandu, dear Maia, for your leadership in guiding your country towards Europe. The European Union is determined to continue to work hand in hand with Moldova for the benefit of our democracies, our economies, and our citizens.