Moldova will contribute to the strengthening of regional energy security, as well as the integration of energy markets through active participation in the North-South gas corridor and the construction of new power lines with Romania.
Energy Minister Victor Parlicov stated this while speaking at the 8th meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council, chaired by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. The discussions started with the bilateral relations between Moldova and the European Union, focused on Moldova's EU accession process. The reform agenda and the political dialog were also reviewed; in particular, the discussions focused on reforms in the security, justice and freedom sectors. In his speech, Victor Parlicov reiterated the fact that Moldova is committed to promoting a competitive and sustainable energy sector, integrated into the European energy markets, thus ensuring energy security and affordable prices for consumers. The Energy Minister expressed gratitude to the European partners for the support provided in the process of synchronizing the national energy system with the continental ENTSO-E, which will allow Moldova to fit into the European energy market and attract long-term investments and create opportunities for economic growth. "Moldova will contribute to the consolidation of regional energy security, as well as to the integration of energy markets through active participation in the North-South gas corridor and through the construction of new 400-kV interconnections with Romania and, consequently, with the EU," Victor Parlicov said at a meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council. He stressed that the priorities in the energy sector are related to the promotion of energy efficiency, increase in the capacities of cross-border interconnections of electricity and natural gas, diversification of energy supply sources and use of the potential of renewable energy sources at the local level. The Minister also noted that the principle of "energy efficiency first" will be applied throughout the economy, and the use of renewable energy will contribute to economic growth and enhance the impact of efforts to reduce climate change. On the sidelines of the meeting in Brussels, the officials discussed the cooperation between Moldova and the European Union in the foreign and security policies, as well as the consolidation of economic and sectoral cooperation, with a focus on the energy and trade sectors. The Energy Minister, along with Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, Foreign Minister Mihail Popşoi and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian took part in a joint discussion on energy security in the Transnistrian region. In the context of the expiration of the contract on the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine, Victor Parlicov emphasized the need to maintain stability in the Transnistrian region. In this context, the Energy Minister said that official Chisinau will not prevent gas supplies from Gazprom to the left bank of the Dniester even after the transit contract expires, but if gas cannot be transported from the east via the traditional route, it will be necessary to find an alternative route, such as the Vertical Corridor, which Moldova has recently joined. // 22.05.2024 - InfoMarket.
