Spindelegger: "Moldova should be integrated into the Strategy for the Danube Region and the Black Sea Initiative"

Vienna, 9 February 2010 - On the occasion of today’s visit of the Moldovan Foreign Minister Iurie Leancă to Vienna, Michael Spindelegger stated: “Austria and Moldova share important points of contact for future cooperation. The Strategy for the Danube Region, which is currently being formulated by the Commission, will bring important incentives to the states bordering the Danube. In relation to this we are counting on the constructive participation of Moldova. The Danube region has all opportunities to develop into a key region within a growing Europe. The cornerstone has now been laid for a more efficient and better coordinated policy for the Danube region. The process launched for the development of an EU strategy will lead to a proposal by the Commission before the end of 2010.”

In this context Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger also elaborated Austria’s Black Sea Initiative in greater detail: “It is important to me to develop new prospects for future markets before the end of the day. In this context the Black Sea Region is of special importance. Here, too, we are counting on Moldova’s cooperation.” It was particularly important to him that Austria should make its economic prospects in the countries bordering the Black Sea a foreign policy priority. But sustainable stability in the Black Sea region was also important for Europe’s security. “The European Union is therefore called upon to deal with this region more intensively,” stated Spindelegger.

Spindelegger was delighted that the new Moldovan government showed a clearly European attitude. “Since Romania’s accession to the EU Moldova is a direct neighbour of the EU. We are therefore highly interested in the country’s continued positive development,” emphasised the Minister. The EU supported Moldova’s economic and democratic development particularly through its Neighbourhood Policy. “Austria is also pro-actively committed to contributing to a resolution of the Transnistrian conflict,” stated Spindelegger, referring to the Measures Building Confidence and Enhancing Security seminar, held last June in Lower Austria and attended by representatives of both conflicting parties.

Moldova has been a priority country of the Austrian development cooperation programme since 2004. Improvements in the occupational training of young people in Moldova are particularly promoted. “Austria will continue to encourage Moldova to energetically continue its political and economic reform efforts,” stated Spindelegger, referring to his forthcoming visit to Chisinau on 9 April. In concluding he promised to continue his pro-active support of Chisinau’s course “on its path to the European family.”

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