IPRE organised a study visit to Moldova for a group of public servants, researchers and journalists from Spain
Between 14 – 17 June, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE), in partnership with Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), organised a study visit to Moldova for a group of public servants, researchers and journalists from Spain.
The purpose of the visit was to inform the participants about the main progress and challenges of Moldova in the context of the accession process to the European Union, but also to strengthen the dialogue with public institutions, think-tanks and media outlets from Spain, in the view of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union.
On the first day of the study visit, Spanish experts and journalists had a series of meetings with Dorin Recean, Prime Minister of Moldova, Maia Sandu, President of Moldova, and Mihai Popșoi, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova. The discussions focused on the government’s priorities within the EU accession process and the authorities’ response to current challenges on the security and defense dimension
Additionally, the participants of the study visit met with Victor Parlicov, Minister of Energy, Stela Leucă, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Veronica Arpintin, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitization, Valeriu Mija, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defense and Nadeja Burciu, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice. Together with these officials, the participants discussed the progress on the sectorial reforms in terms of economic development, enhancing energy resilience, strengthening judicial independence and defense capabilities, in the context of the European integration agenda and the implementation of the nine measures for opening the EU accession negotiations.
During the second day of the study visit, the Spanish experts and journalists visited the city of Comrat, where they met with Alexandr Tarnavski, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, Serghei Anastasov, Mayor of Comrat, and Mihail Șalvir, Director of the “Valkaneș” Free Economic Zone. The main issues discussed focused on cooperation between regional and central authorities, as well as the role of the EU in the development and modernisation of the Gagauzian region.
The study visit was organized within the project “Enhancing the Role of Think Tanks in Supporting the Republic of Moldova’s National European Integration Efforts #ThinkTanks4EUMembership,” implemented by IPRE, with the support of the Open Society Foundations (OSF).
