A memorandum on the cooperation program between the Office for European Cooperation in Chisinau and the French General Secretariat for European Affairs was signed on Friday in Chisinau. According to Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, the document is an important step that will help strengthen institutional capacities in the context of preparations for the actual negotiations with the EU, IPN reports.
According to Cristina Gherasimov, this cooperation will make it possible to increase the efficiency of the institutions and the professionalism of the officials involved in the accession process, with the support of France.
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration said that France is helping a great deal in recovering assets stolen by fugitive oligarchs, modernizing energy and railway infrastructure and increasing forested areas. The advanced stage that Moldova is at today as a country in the EU accession process is also due to France, trust and openness, including that of President Emmanuel Macron.
France's commitment and solidarity in supporting Moldova's European path was also seen when Moldova was the target of falsehoods about the EU, spread in the context of the presidential elections and the referendum on EU integration. The French authorities' swift reaction to these challenges helped Moldova to be stronger in the face of the hybrid threats it faces, Cristina Gherasimov said.
At the same press conference, the French Minister Delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, said that he was in Chisinau to express his unwavering support for Moldovan democracy, a month after the constitutional referendum that confirmed the country's pro-European orientation. France will continue to work with Moldova by sharing its experience, including by strengthening cooperation with the French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference. The official added that foreign cyber interference is a threat that must be fought together.
Benjamin Haddad also said that Moldova would be able to benefit from the newly created European cyber reserve. The EU cybersecurity reserve consists of response services for significant or large-scale cybersecurity incidents.
