The EU will help Moldova to overcome the current difficulties, including in the energy and economic fields
This was announced by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen during an official meeting in Berlin with Moldovan Agriculture and Food Minister Ludmila Catlabuga. The Agriculture Ministry said that during the discussions, the sides discussed the common challenges generated by the current geopolitical context, the impact of the war in Ukraine on Moldova, as well as the steps needed to move towards European integration. Christophe Hansen emphasized the EU's solidarity with Moldova in these difficult times, noting that the country's geographical position next to Ukraine makes it vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict. He expressed the EU's support to help Moldova overcome these difficulties, including in the energy and economic fields, and stressed the importance of boosting the European integration process. Ludmila Catlabuga reiterated Moldova's willingness to cooperate constructively in the accession process. “I am grateful for the constant support of the European Union in preparing the agricultural sector to be brought in line with the European standards. I myself am a representative of the agricultural sector and I can say that our farmers deeply appreciate the support provided by the EU,” the Agriculture and Food Minister said. The key topic of the discussion was the need to support the preparation of the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) to be adjusted to the European requirements, as well as the development of the agricultural chambers and the harmonization of the Moldovan agricultural policy with the new Common Agricultural Policy. Ludmila Catlabuga emphasized that, given the country's limited budget, European financial assistance is necessary to help Moldovan agriculture cope with the high EU requirements. “The Moldovan people clearly chose the European path in the referendum, and farmers realize that the transition to the new agricultural policy requires significant investments. This is why we need pre-accession funds to support this process,” the Agriculture Ministry head added. Christophe Hansen urged Moldova to step up its efforts in the accession process, noting that the EU assistance will continue to depend on the progress. “The necessary support will depend on concrete results. It is important for Moldova to speed up the implementation of reforms,” the EU representative stressed. Ludmila Catlabuga expressed the Moldovan authorities' determination to continue the reforms and to thoroughly prepare the agricultural sector for EU integration. “This is an important period for Moldova and the EU support is vital to achieve our goals by 2027, when we hope to become full EU members,” she concluded. The talks emphasized the importance of preparing for the bilateral screening scheduled for September, as well as the need for close cooperation to overcome economic, energy and social challenges. // 20.01.2025 - InfoMarket
