In Chisinau she will meet with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and Foreign Minister Natalia
Gherman. The High Representative will also meet the President of Moldova, Nicolae
Timofti, the Speaker of the Parliament, Igor Corman, and leaders of political parties and factions.
"Moldova has demonstrated its commitment to cooperation with the European Union and
in Chisinau I will stress our reciprocal commitment to Moldova’s political association and
economic integration with the EU. I will also underscore the EU’s support for the on-going political
and economic reforms in Moldova, as well as in addressing challenges
like stabilising the institutions of democracy, fighting corruption and moving towards the settlement
of the Transnistria-conflict," said Catherine Ashton ahead of her visit.
Background
The EU and Moldova have substantially completed negotiations on an EU-Moldova Association
Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which is expected to be
initialled at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in November 2013.
EU relations with Moldova: http://eeas.europa.eu/moldova/
15th meeting of the EU-Republic of Moldova Cooperation Council (25 June 2013):
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/er/137612.pdf
Eastern Partnership: http://eeas.europa.eu/eastern/index_en.htm
