EU, Moldova sign security, defense partnership

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The EU and Moldova on Tuesday signed a security and defense partnership agreement.

Following the signing of the agreement, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X: "Moldova is the first country to sign a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU."

"This partnership will enhance the country's resilience," he added.

Borrell underlined that this agreement will allow two sides to “jointly address common security challenges, make our engagement more effective and explore new areas of cooperation."

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean, for his part, said: "There cannot be any better mechanism to ensure peace and stability for citizens than becoming an EU Member State."

"Until then, the signing of the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership is a step forward, enhancing our peace, security, and prosperity," Recean added.

After the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24, 2022, Moldova applied to join the bloc and was granted candidate status in June of the same year.

Last December, Brussels decided to open accession negotiations for the country.