Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Monday before a ministerial conference of the Moldova Support Platform in Paris that Moldova needs grants to buy energy from the market, Agerpres reports.

He pointed out that a ministerial conference of the Moldova Support Platform on July 15 in Bucharest approved financial support of EUR 615 million, of which EUR 432.3 million in the form of grants.

„I think it is very important that this conference continues to provide financial support. Back in Bucharest, we have gathered EUR 650 million, of which EUR 432 million in the form of grants. The Republic of Moldova needs grants now, not loans in order to buy energy from the market. This is probably the most important target now. And second, equally important, is to provide support for reforms which are needed for the European integration process.”

Aurescu added that because of the bombardments in Ukraine, Moldova could no longer import electricity from Ukraine. On October 14, Romania started supplying electricity to Moldova, and the country currently provides 80-90% of what is needed.

He emphasised that another important objective of the conference is support for the reform process, as the Moldovan government is very much determined to pursue a „very ambitious reform plan.”

Achieving this objective is very important, because based on it Moldova can take the next step: starting accession negotiations. And this platform, together with the six working groups, is best equipped to help Moldova in terms of expertise for achieving these objectives, he said.

According to the head of the Romanian diplomacy, Monday’s event is a strong political signal of support”, considering the „magnitude of the challenges” facing Moldova.

„This is the most affected state, beyond Ukraine, by the war started by Russia against Ukraine. Moldova has stayed the course and it continued to show solidarity and helped Ukraine. It continued its reform process, which is important for its European integration. That’s why we need to continue to support the Republic of Moldova, both in the short, and in the medium and long term, as long as it is necessary. This is the most important moment in terms of the support of the international community for the Republic of Moldova. Romania will do its part,” said Aurescu.

Aurescu is co-chairing today in Paris the third ministerial conference of the Moldova Support Platform, a permanent support tool created at the initiative of the foreign ministers of Romania, Germany and France in the spring of 2022 in order to mobilise financial contributions from the world community and to support reforms necessary for Moldova’s EU accession.

The meeting in Paris takes place amid Moldova facing major energy, economic, humanitarian and resilience challenges against the backdrop of a brutal war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

According to the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE), Aurescu will highlight the fact that Moldova’s main current necessity is to get from its international partners the necessary financial assistance for gas and electricity purchases.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy will inform about assistance measures undertaken by Romania, such public grants worth EUR 10 million, a quick reaction to facilitate substantial deliveries of electricity from October 14, 2022, and initiating the implementation of an agreement on non-refundable financial assistance worth EUR 100 million to Moldova.

He is also expected to highlight that the Moldova Support Platform remains at the centre of international efforts aimed at providing assistance to Moldova for building a stable, prosperous and resilient democracy.

Agerpres