Romania strengthens support for Moldova in energy, infrastructure
Romania remains a trusted partner of the Republic of Moldova and will continue to provide tangible support in key areas such as energy, infrastructure, and economic development.
This statement was made by Mircea Abrudean, the interim President of the Romanian Senate, during a press conference held in Chișinău, alongside Igor Grosu, the President of the Moldovan Parliament.
“We have already approved funding for numerous projects. We will continue to review and support the requests made by the authorities in Chișinău,” stated the Romanian official.
Mircea Abrudean emphasized that the relationship between Romania and Moldova is grounded in strategic cooperation, based on deep historical, cultural, and economic ties. He reiterated Romania's support for Moldova’s European path and mentioned that Romania stands by the Moldovan people in overcoming the energy crisis and in their process of European Union integration.
“The continuation and stability of pro-European forces in government is crucial, especially since improving citizens' quality of life is the most effective countermeasure to the anti-European rhetoric promoted by Moscow,” the official stated.
On the energy front, the Romanian official announced an intensification of efforts to finance interconnection projects and to find solutions for electricity supply, aiming to strengthen Moldova’s independence and resilience.
Regarding infrastructure, Abrudean highlighted the progress made in the construction and modernization of bridges over the Prut River: “The progress on the A8 Highway – the Unification Highway – is remarkable. At the end of April, we will witness a historic moment: the beginning of the construction of the Ungheni bridge, the first new bridge over the Prut in the last 60 years, a crucial part of this ambitious project.”
Romania also supports measures to streamline traffic at the border, announcing that coordinated control will soon be introduced at the Galați–Giurgiulești crossing point, complementing the measures already in place at Albița–Leușeni. “These measures will significantly contribute to traffic flow and strengthen the ties between the two countries,” Mircea Abrudean reiterated.
Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu stated that the 2025 elections must be protected from external interference and organized criminal groups.
“2025 is an electoral year, with presidential elections in Romania and parliamentary elections in Moldova. We are learning from the lessons of 2024, when we witnessed multiple forms of external interference, especially from the Russian Federation. We must be well-prepared and highly interconnected. You have noticed that these individuals have already – or are trying to – become active on both sides of the Prut River,” Grosu said.
In this context, the Speaker stressed the importance of cooperation between institutions in Romania and Moldova. “Our institutions must be in constant contact to identify and, of course, deter these actions.”
The Romanian presidential elections will take place on May 4, with the diaspora being able to vote as early as May 2. The second round of elections will take place on May 18, with voters abroad able to cast their ballots starting May 16.
The Central Electoral Bureau in Romania held a draw on Saturday, March 22, to determine the order of candidates on the ballots. George Simion will be the first candidate on the list, followed by Crin Antonescu and Elena Lasconi. The first page of the ballot will list six candidates, while the second page will have five.
The electoral campaign in Romania will begin on April 4, one month before the first round of presidential elections. On April 9, electronic versions of the absentee voting ballots will be published, on April 16 the locations of polling stations abroad will be finalized, and on April 19, printing of the ballots will begin.
It should be noted that members of Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election from November 24, deciding that the process must restart due to numerous irregularities and breaches of electoral law throughout the election stages.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
