Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has been received with military honors on a visit to the Republic of Moldova, which borders Ukraine. Her counterpart Anatolie Nosatii welcomed the SPD politician to the capital Chisinau on Saturday. Political talks were then planned. Lambrecht had already arrived in the country on Friday evening. Moldova is one of the smallest countries on the border with Ukraine and has been severely affected by the refugee movements from the neighboring country, but also by the consequences of the corona pandemic and the energy crisis.

Moldova and Ukraine are EU accession candidates. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the other 26 heads of state and government of the European Union decided that in June at an EU summit in Brussels. According to a recommendation by the EU Commission, accession negotiations with both countries should only begin once they have fulfilled further reform requirements. It is about judicial reforms and stronger fight against corruption.

Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) recently announced that Moldova would be supported with an additional 60 million euros to deal with the energy crisis. Over a quarter of the population lives in absolute poverty. In addition, the purchase price for gas has increased twelvefold in the past twelve months as a result of the Russian war of aggression.

Federal Foreign Office on the Republic of Moldova