Prime Minister Pavel Filip pays a working visit to Brussels. Today he had a meeting with European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The premier appreciated the EU support for meeting the goal on Moldova’s interconnection to the European networks for transporting gas and electricity resources. In the context, Filip noted that the reforms in this sector were seen in the programme negotiated with the International Monetary Fund, and the government paid a special attention to ensuring energy security of Moldova, implementing energy efficiency projects, as well as turning to good account the renewable energy sources.

The officials pointed out the opportunity to consolidate Moldova’s energy security by integrating into the EU energy market. In this context, they remarked achievements recorded by the Moldovan authorities in adjusting the legal framework to the EU regulations and practices. They especially highlighted the importance of adopting in final reading the new energy law, in accordance with the recommendations by the energy community, meant to implement the energy package III and to consolidate the independence of the National Energy Regulatory Agency.

In this context, Filip underlined that the basic priority and main challenge for Moldova remained to be development of interconnection projects. Referring to gas, he reiterated the importance of extending Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline to Chisinau.

For his part, Maroš Šefčovič reconfirmed the EU willingness to financially back the construction of this pipeline. As regards electricity, the Moldovan side unveiled the latest data on carrying out project Isaccea-Vulcanesti-Chisinau.

At the same time, Maroš Šefčovič appreciated the effort for strengthening energy capacities of Moldova and opted for further backing the modernization of energy sector in the country.