Moldova can receive 50 million euros in financial assistance from the European Peace Fund to improve its airspace protection capabilities.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó announced this at a joint briefing in Budapest with his Moldovan counterpart Mihail Popsoi. Peter Szijjártó noted that from the second half of this year, Hungary should become chairman of the Council of the European Union in 2024, and it will advocate for Moldova to receive these funds from the European Peace Fund. He also emphasized that Hungary supports the expansion of the European Union to the East and supports Moldova's accession to the EU. Peter Szijjarto promised that if the first intergovernmental conference, at which negotiations on Moldova's accession to the EU should be officially launched, does not take place before the beginning of June 2024, then Hungary will organize it after receiving the presidency of the EU Council. Peter Szijjártó also stressed that Hungary will work closely with Moldova to help it quickly achieve the goal of accession to the EU, and this will be facilitated by the Action Plan signed on Friday in Budapest between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary for the exchange of knowledge regarding the accession process to the European Union. As Peter Szijjártó explained, 50 representatives of Moldova will be able to study in Hungary in order to more effectively negotiate with the EU on institutional reforms and harmonization of legislation. In particular, civil servants of Moldova will be able to benefit from the experience of the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy in matters of integration into the EU through seminars and trainings organized both in Chisinau and Budapest. There will be an exchange of diplomats, scientists, officials, experts and researchers to support the process of Moldova's integration into the EU. Moldovan students will be provided with a portion of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships in EU studies for licentiate, master's and doctoral programs at Hungarian universities. The partnership will promote joint research and knowledge sharing in areas of mutual interest. “We will do everything to support Moldova so that it becomes a member of the EU as soon as possible,” said the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry. Moldavian Foreign Minister Mihail Popsoi thanked his Hungarian counterpart for the support provided by Hungary to Moldova’s European path, and emphasized the desire to intensify dialogue in this direction, including during Hungary’s presidency of the European Council, which will take place in the second half of 2024. // 22.03.2024 — InfoMarket.
