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On 4 May in Chisinau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström met with Moldovan leaders to discuss the country’s European integration, reform agenda and the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

“The joint visit of the Lithuanian and Swedish Foreign Ministers is a sign of our solidarity and strong support for Moldova’s European integration,” said Linkevičius.

In the run-up to the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister urged Moldova to consolidate its efforts directed at further deepening the country’s European integration and implementing reforms.

“There is no doubt about Moldova’s European perspective. Lithuania has always supported this objective of Moldova, but the key to ultimate success is in your hands. The successful formula of European integration is based on the implementation of reforms, particularly in the legal, administrative and energy sectors, fighting corruption, increasing transparency of the banking and media sectors, as well as improving protection of human rights,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

According to Linkevičius, the people of Moldova who choose a European future for their country should be the first to reap the benefits of the reforms and Lithuania can also contribute to Moldova’s success.

“After the restoration of independence, Lithuania has implemented reforms, which were sometimes painful but necessary for the country. Political parties, civil society and all the citizens joined their effort, and this made Lithuania’s integration into the European Union successful. We have learned lessons which we want to share with Moldova. Today various Lithuanian experts are helping Moldova to implement legal, public service and customs service reforms, and to strengthen the country’s civil society,” the Minister stated.

Linkevičius called on Moldova to fully implement the EU-Moldova Association Agreement and to take advantage of the opportunities that the agreement provides to modernize the country’s economy.

‎The Minister also pointed out that both Moldova and Europe as a whole are facing new challenges to their freedom.

“We must join our efforts in order to deliver a proper response to the use of force in Europe and to unconventional threats such as propaganda, cyber-attacks or the peril of using energy supplies as an instrument of political pressure,” said the head of Lithuania’s diplomacy.

The Lithuanian and Swedish Foreign Ministers met with Andrian Candu, Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, Natalia Gherman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and with Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici.