FEDERICA MOGHERINI COMING TO MOLDOVA THURSDAY

Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, will pay an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on October 3.

Federica Mogherini will have meetings with President Igor Dodon, Prime Minister Maia Sandu, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu. She will hold, together with Prime Minister Sandu, a joint press conference foreseen at 13:50 hrs local time.

The visit to Chisinau takes place just three days after the 5th EU-Moldova Association Council session was held in Brussels, and will offer an opportunity to build on the discussions that the High Representative/Vice-President had with Prime Minister Sandu and other government representatives.

“Central to the visit will be the government's reform agenda, which, as mentioned during the Association Council and in the accompanying annual Association Implementation Report, form important commitments under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, particularly regarding democratic standards and the rule of law. Justice reform, fighting corruption, the banking fraud investigation, economic development and improving the business climate, as well as the upcoming local election on October 20, are all also expected to be discussed”, the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova reported in its press release on Wednesday.

Federica Mogherini said at the last Monday’s press conference following the Association Council meeting held in Brussels that Moldova delivers on the commitments according to the reform agenda and in such conditions the EU is ready to increase its financial support and advice.

She stressed that as in the past, the EU support will remain conditional on reform progress. “But also as in the past, we will stand by you with our support and advice – and let me say, even more than in the past. We are ready to increase our financial support and advice in response to the Government’s ambitious reform agenda”, Mogherini said.

She expressed hope that the first installment of macro-financial assistance will be released to Moldova soon.