Marta Kos: The Republic of Moldova must maintain the pace of reforms on its path toward EU accession
The authorities of the Republic of Moldova are encouraged to maintain the pace of implementing the reforms necessary to advance in the process of accession to the European Union (EU). The message was conveyed on Monday, October 20, by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, to the acting Deputy Prime Minister, Mihai Popșoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a meeting held in Luxembourg.
The discussions between Marta Kos and Mihai Popșoi took place on the sidelines of the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers on security and interregional connectivity.
The European official stressed that the progress of the Republic of Moldova will be assessed in the annual report of the European Commission's Enlargement Package, which is to be published this autumn. At the same time, Marta Kos reiterated the European Commission's commitment to continue supporting our country through expertise, assistance and gradual access to the instruments and programs of the European Union.
In turn, the acting head of diplomacy in Chișinău, Mihai Popșoi, welcomed the positive assessment of the European Commission on the progress of the Republic of Moldova on its European path.
"We welcome the positive assessment by the European Commission of the progress made by the Republic of Moldova in the process of accession to the European Union. We are ready to move on to the opening of the negotiation clusters, after the Republic of Moldova has completed the bilateral screening stage", declared Mihai Popșoi.
The two officials also discussed the next steps in the process of our state's accession to the EU, with a focus on the areas of foreign policy, security and defense. Mihai Popșoi expressed gratitude to the European Union for the assistance provided to our country, including through the Economic Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova.
The acting deputy prime minister also thanked the European Union for its support in strengthening the capacities of national institutions responsible for combating hybrid threats, particularly in cybersecurity and disinformation, in the context of the parliamentary elections on September 28.
We remind you that the head of Moldovan diplomacy participates on Monday, October 20, in the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers in Luxembourg, which takes place under the auspices of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union. Mihai Popșoi was invited to the event by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela.
The meeting is divided into two thematic sessions: one dedicated to security, which will bring together the states of the Black Sea region and the Member States of the European Union, and the other dedicated to connectivity, which will also include the countries of Central Asia.
On the sidelines of the event, Mihai Popșoi will have several bilateral meetings with counterparts from the Member States of the European Union, as well as with partners from outside the EU, to strengthen external relations and political support for the Republic of Moldova in its European path.
