The Secretary of State for European Affairs, Daniela Gitman, and the Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering of the Republic of Finland, Tytti Tuppurainen, are paying a joint visit to Chisinau on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Agerpres.

The two officials on Monday had a round of political consultations, on the occasion of the Finnish high official’s working visit to Romania, at the invitation of the Romanian official. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the two sides addressed the main topics on the bilateral agenda, in particular the prospects for strengthening political dialogue, respectively the opportunities for strengthening economic and sectoral cooperation. They also covered topical issues on the European agenda, mainly focusing on aspects of cooperation at the European level in managing the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as on the involvement of the European Union and the member states in supporting partners from the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans. The two high-ranked officials also addressed topics related to energy, competitiveness at the EU level and the Internal Market.

The MAE shows that, during the discussions, the Finnish side reiterated its firm support for Romania’s accession to the Schengen area as soon as possible in 2023, in which context Tuppurainen insisted on the importance of maintaining unity and solidarity at the level of the European Union, in a period of unprecedented geopolitical challenges that Europe is currently facing.

In her turn, Secretary of State Daniela Gitman evoked Romania’s firm support for Ukraine, both in managing the consequences of the war started by Russia, and in what concerns this country’s European aspirations. The discussions between the two officials also emphasized the support both parties showed for the eastward expansion of the European Union, based on the fulfillment by the candidates of all the accession criteria.

Thus, including in the perspective of the joint visit that the Romanian and Finnish officials are paying to Chisinau, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the secretary of state for European affairs emphasized the need to continue and strengthen the European Union’s multisectoral support for the Republic of Moldova, as a candidate state for EU accession. Gitman also highlighted Romania’s solid support for the EU accession of the Republic of Moldova, the advancement of the necessary reforms and the promotion of the European integration process of the neighbouring state.

The two officials also discussed education, while exploring the possibility that the two states participate in the curriculum reform process in Ukraine.

After the consultations, the two parties paid a visit to the Centre for Integrated Services for Ukrainian refugees in Bucharest (Romexpo), on which occasion state councilor Madalina Turza and the UNHCR representative in Romania, Pablo Zapata, presented in detail the support offered to refugees from Ukraine. Also, the two officials visited the Donation and Distribution Centre opened by the Capital City Hall at Romexpo.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State for European Affairs Daniela Gitman, and Finnish Minister Tytti Tuppurainen paid a joint visit to the centres intended to support Ukrainian refugees in Suceava County. The two officials visited the logistic centres for storage and distribution of humanitarian assistance (hub) in Salcia and Siret, the Siret border crossing point, and the temporary accommodation camp for Ukrainian refugees in Radauti.

On the occasion of her presence at the Siret hub, Secretary of State Daniela Gitman and Minister Tytti Tuppurainen witnessed the arrival and preparation for the transfer of 12 generators donated by France to Ukraine, part of a transport that also includes eight heat pumps, which will arrive at the hub in stages, between January 17-19.

While at the Salcia and Siret, the Romanian officials presented the multidimensional support provided by Romania to Ukraine, including in the context of the reconstruction and European integration processes of this country, as well as the determination of the Romanian authorities to continue providing assistance to Ukraine, as long as necessary.

At the same time, the two high-ranked officials’ visit to the Siret border crossing point offered the opportunity to the Romanian side to highlight Romania’s substantial contribution to the protection of the Union’s external border and, as a whole, to the security of the entire European area of free movement, including in the context of current challenges.

Agerpres