Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini met today at the foreign ministry in Rome with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova Natalia Gherman. They discussed priority bilateral topics and relations between Moldova and the European Union, including the imminent signing of an association agreement and the liberalised visa system already in effect.
Ministers Mogherini and Gherman underscored the excellent relations Italy and Moldova already enjoy in a variety of sectors, with Chisinau participating in the 2015 EXPO with its own pavilion. It is the intention of both governments to pursue and increase collaboration, particularly during the Italian duty presidency of the EU, with Deputy Prime Minister Gherman stating her hope that the Italian parliament would be among the first to ratify the EU-Moldova association agreement.
Both ministers voiced deep concern over the crisis in Ukraine and their hopes that the two sides would fully implement the Geneva accord, along with the belief that all countries must ensure stability in the region and good neighbourhood relations.
