site.btaBucharest and Chisinau Sign Joint Declaration to Strengthen Moldova's Resilience

Presidents Klaus Iohannis of Romania and Maia Sandu of Moldova have signed a Joint Declaration on Bilateral Cooperation to Strengthen the Resilience of the Republic of Moldova. The signing ceremony was held in Chisinau on Saturday, Agerpres reported.

According to the declaration, which includes eight points, Romania and Moldova will cooperate to achieve progress on the technical and political level in the negotiations for Moldova's accession to the European Union. Moldova's goal is to be ready for accession by 2030.

Moldova and Ukraine started accession talks with the EU in June 2024.

The joint declaration also stipulates that in the current regional context Romania and Moldova will continue to work for progress in their bilateral defence and security cooperation to enhance Moldova's defence potential.

Special attention will be paid to strengthening Moldova's resilience vis-à-vis hybrid threats, disinformation and the undermining of democratic processes and the rule of law.

The two countries will improve their cooperation in legal matters, border management and the fight against organized and economic crime and money laundering.

Another priority set forth in the declaration is energy connectivity between the two neighbours, development of the Moldovan energy system, including by integrating into European market mechanisms, and promotion of the security of energy supplies.

Bucharest and Chisinau declare their determination to support Ukraine in mitigating the effects of Russia's aggression.

Romania and Moldova will cooperate to facilitate transborder flows of goods in view of the further use of the Solidarity Lanes, to facilitate the efforts for the recovery of Ukraine and to continue trilateral dialogue on issues of current importance, the declaration says, as quoted by Agerpres.

President Iohannis' visit to Moldova came on Romanian Language Day, celebrated in both countries. The guest said in a speech that the Romanians on both banks of the Prut River share a common language, culture and history.

Emerging from a one-on-one meeting with President Sandu, President Iohannis said at a news conference that the start of EU membership negotiations with Moldova is one of the most important moments in bilateral relations during his two terms in office. European and Euro-Atlantic integration is the path that Moldova should follow, just as Romania has done, the guest said.