Nordic-Baltic foreign ministers engage in dialogue with local communities across the Republic of Moldova
Eight foreign ministers and state secretaries from Nordic countries visited the Republic of Moldova. In addition to official meetings with central authorities, they visited the northern, central, and southern regions of the country, where they participated in a series of “EU Talks” events.
Officials from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden engaged with community members in Bălți, Comrat, and Ungheni to discuss Moldova’s European integration process, best practices, and development experiences from their respective countries, as well as the support and benefits of European integration.
In Bălți, Gabrielius Landsbergis (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania), Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark), and Martin Eyjólfsson (State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland) addressed topics related to collaboration opportunities between Moldova and the countries they represent. They also spoke about the benefits of European integration and the support provided by the European Union and its member states in the accession process, offering concrete examples from their own countries’ experiences.
In Comrat, Baiba Braže (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia), Espen Barth Eide (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway), and Pasi Rajala (Political State Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland) discussed local economic opportunities, the support provided by the European Union in the accession process, and the tangible results achieved by the ATU Gagauzia thanks to this support. The dialogue highlighted the importance of sustainable development and the European partnership for strengthening the economy and infrastructure at the regional level.
In Ungheni, Torbjörn Sohlström (Director General and Head of Euro-Atlantic and Security Policy Department, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs) and Margus Tsahkna (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia) engaged with citizens, local authorities, and business representatives, emphasizing the relevance of cooperation for the socio-economic progress of the region. The discussions focused on Sweden’s and Estonia’s experiences in the EU accession process and emphasized the economic, social, and administrative benefits that European integration brings.
In the context of the close collaboration between Moldova and the Nordic and Baltic countries, these states have allocated significant resources to support Moldova’s internal reforms, strengthen democratic institutions, enhance energy security, and provide humanitarian assistance. In 2023, the support amounted to €128.4 million. Additionally, the Nordic and Baltic countries have committed to contributing to increasing Moldova’s resilience to hybrid threats, as well as to addressing the humanitarian and economic consequences of the war in Ukraine.
The “EU Talks” events are organised by the EU Information Centre in the Republic of Moldova – Europe Café, with the support of the European Union, providing a platform for open dialogue between European officials and communities in Moldova. These discussions reflect the benefits of European integration, collaboration on joint projects in various fields, as well as the culture, traditions, and history of the EU and its member states. The initiative reflects the EU’s commitment to supporting Moldova’s development on its European path, highlighting the value of the strategic partnership between Moldova and the European Union, and its member states.
