Moldovan delegation arrived in Luxembourg

Chisinau, 25 June /MOLDPRES/- Moldova's delegation is in Luxembourg, where negotiations on accession to the European Union will be officially launched at today's intergovernmental conference. The country's delegation is headed by Prime Minister Dorin Recean.

"Together with the team, we are today in Luxembourg, where we are officially launching the negotiations on accession to the European Union within the framework of the first Intergovernmental Conference Republic of Moldova - European Union," Recean said.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov is also present in Luxembourg as chief negotiator for Moldova's accession to the European Union.

"We are looking forward to formally start accession negotiations at the first Moldova-EU intergovernmental conference. We are more committed than ever to fulfill the aspirations of our citizens to become part of the European family," Gherasimov emphasized.

All 27 EU member states will be represented at today's meeting at the level of foreign or European affairs ministers, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine as candidate countries. The meeting will be chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union until the end of June.

Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium, who arrived in Luxembourg this morning, described the opening of EU accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine as "a historic moment". 

"I will come back for a historic moment, the opening of EU accession negotiations for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine," the Belgian minister said.

The country position of the Republic of Moldova will be presented in Luxembourg by the government delegation headed by Prime Minister Dorin Recean. The document was approved at the June 21 meeting of the executive. "The European integration plan of the Republic of Moldova is ambitious but realistic, with very clear indicators for each negotiation chapter, which will bring direct benefits to every person in our country", said Recean.

Following the conference in Luxembourg, the Republic of Moldova and the European Union are expected to agree on the general negotiating position, the document in which the Republic of Moldova accepts the negotiating framework proposed by the EU, which reflects the principles and guidelines set out in the negotiating framework.

Chisinau authorities' mission is to ensure Moldova's preparation for accession to the European Union by 2030, says the Office for European Integration.