site.btaRomania Supports Moldova's Request to Join Three Seas Initiative

Romania strongly supports Chisinau's request to join this cooperation format, which aims, among other things, to identify concrete ways to engage Moldova and Ukraine in projects aimed at increasing the degree of interconnectivity in the fields of energy, transport and digital technologies of the region," Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said, as quoted by a government press release during his meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Bucharest. Their talks precede Wednesday's summit of the Three Seas Initiative, which will open later in the day in the Romanian capital, the government press service said.

He confirmed the political and technical support for Moldova's integration into the European Union. 

"At this moment, it is a priority to decide on the launch of accession negotiations within the EU in December," Ciolaccu said.

The Romanian Prime Minister informed that his country recently transferred the first tranche of EUR 10 million to finance some priority projects, based on the agreement between the two governments on the implementation of the EUR 100 million technical and financial assistance grant programme. The funds from this first tranche were earmarked for the purchase of school transport vans and for infrastructure and local projects (water supply, sewerage, etc.). 

Sandu thanked Romania for the support given to Moldova in the current security context caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. She stressed the importance of continuing cooperation, especially in the energy sector, in view of the upcoming winter season.