President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has signed a decree appointing Nicu Popescu as Special Envoy for European Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, TRIBUNA reports.

The Special Envoy is mandated to strengthen support for Moldova’s accession to the European Union, advance the political dimension of the accession process, and deepen relations with the country’s strategic partners to reinforce peace and security. This work will be carried out in close cooperation with the President, Government, and Parliament.

The role is designed to enhance the activity of the presidential institution by involving experts with deep expertise in strategically important fields, aligned with the President’s priorities.

Nicu Popescu previously served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. In that capacity, he led Moldova’s diplomatic efforts to open EU accession negotiations and promoted stronger ties with EU member states, the United States, and other key partners. He is currently Co-Director of the European Security Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), based in Paris.