The Romanian companies Transgaz and Transelectrica will help strengthen the interconnection of the gas and electricity networks of Moldova and Romania.
This was stated by Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, speaking at the Forum on Security in the Black Sea and the Balkans in Bucharest, in which Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean also took part. As part of the discussion panel “Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region. Increasing the resilience of states affected by current crises through cooperation”, the prime ministers of the two countries spoke about the priorities for ensuring regional security and stability. In this regard, they noted the need to intensify cooperation in the current security context in order to reduce, for the benefit of citizens, the impact of the energy and economic crisis felt as a result of the war in the neighboring country. Dorin Recean noted that the Moldovan government is focused on strengthening Moldova's security agenda in parallel with strengthening economic development. “We have institutions well equipped to deal with hybrid challenges, propaganda, false narratives, attempts to stir up tensions between ethnic groups in Moldova, including challenges organized for refugees from Ukraine. We increased the defense budget because we understood that the status of neutrality cannot protect us if it is not respected, as the Russian Federation does. Therefore, we have the goal and duty to explain to the public what defense capability means. I personally will continue to inform the public, we must have these discussions, let's explain, and at some point, let's ask the public which way we should go,” the Prime Minister of Moldova said. Nicolae Ciuca announced the need to concentrate the efforts of the European Union on supporting Ukraine in overcoming the devastating consequences of the war, as well as Moldova, which suffered from its consequences. “Since Mr. Dorin Recean, Prime Minister of Moldova, with whom I had a discussion this morning, is here, I inform you that yesterday at a government meeting a memorandum was approved, according to which the structures of the Ministry of Energy and companies such as Transgaz and Transelectrica will help strengthen the interconnection of gas and power grids of Moldova and Romania,” said the head of the Romanian government. On the sidelines of the forum, the parties discussed the ongoing projects and outlined priorities for strengthening the bilateral Moldovan-Romanian agenda in key areas. Dorin Recean thanked his Romanian colleague for the constant support of Romania. “Bucharest reacted quickly and extended a helping hand to us when we needed it. Thanks to the collective support of our friends in the West, we have strengthened the energy security of our country and were able to move quickly on the European agenda,” said the Prime Minister of Moldova. Nicolae Ciuca reaffirmed Romania's strong support for Moldova's European integration process and thanked the Moldovan authorities for their efforts to ensure peace and stability on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border.// 18.05.2023 — InfoMarket
