It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the Moldova Partnership Platform Conference in Chișinău, held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. This fifth ministerial conference, co-hosted by me alongside the heads of French, German, and Romanian diplomacy – Stéphane Séjourné, Annalena Baerbock, and Luminița Odobescu – marks an essential step forward in our shared commitment to the Republic of Moldova's future. It is heartening to see such a gathering of dedicated partners and friends.

The presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, and the Netherlands, Caspar Veldkamp, further highlights our extraordinary relationships.

On October 17, 2023, we convened the fourth Ministerial Conference of the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova, during which six new financing agreements and memoranda were signed. These agreements mobilized substantial financial support in the form of grants and favorable loans. This funding is crucial for developing Moldova's strategic sectors, focusing on infrastructure, energy, and climate adaptation.

Thanks to our partners' contributions to the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund, we were able to provide energy bill compensations to our citizens. Additionally, we extended assistance to Ukrainians fleeing the war, managed our borders effectively, and strengthened our capacity to confront hybrid threats. Simultaneously, we advanced our agenda to increase socio-economic resilience. We also launched concrete initiatives that have made a real difference in the lives of our citizens, including:

• Enhancing energy security by implementing energy efficiency projects in 25 public educational and social buildings across the country;
• Providing more efficient and secure heating and hot water services for consumers, while reducing thermal energy consumption in 57 residential buildings and over 200 public institutions.

The significance of the Moldova Support Platform has grown as we continue on our path toward European integration. This platform has been restructured into the "Moldova Partnership Platform" to reflect the centrality of EU accession as Moldova's most important strategic objective. The support mobilized through this platform is essential in complementing the assistance directed toward Moldova's integration into the European Union.

Our principal aim today is to shift from ad-hoc and emergency support to a long-term partnership that will guide Moldova on its path to EU accession and foster sustainable and resilient development through necessary reforms.

To achieve this, the Moldova Partnership Platform has established four critical working groups, pivotal to our collective effort to build a resilient and prosperous Moldova, aligned with the values and standards of the European Union:

1. Justice, Anticorruption, and Security – focusing on strengthening the rule of law and enhancing our national security framework.
2. Energy and Energy Efficiency, Environmental Challenges – dedicated to addressing pressing environmental issues and improving energy efficiency as we transition to a more sustainable future.
3. Sustainable Economic and Strategic Infrastructure Development – aimed at bolstering Moldova's economic growth and developing key infrastructure projects vital for our nation's progress.
4. Public Administration Reform and Public Finance Management – concentrating on reforming public administration and improving financial management to ensure effective governance.

I am deeply grateful for your dedication and the unwavering support you have shown. The discussions and collaborations that will take place today are critical to our shared mission, and I am confident that, together, we will continue to build a resilient, prosperous, and European future for Moldova.