Austria remains a devoted partner of the Republic of Moldova — this was the message delivered during a joint press conference held by Doina Gherman, Deputy Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament and Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, together with Petra Bayr and Christine Schwarz‑Fuchs, the heads of the foreign policy committees of the National Council and the Federal Council of the Austrian Parliament, TRIBUNA reports.

Doina Gherman stated: “Our colleagues from Austria reconfirmed that Austria remains a key supporter of Moldova’s European path. We conveyed that we are ready for the opening of accession negotiations, and the June EU Council meeting could become a milestone for our EU integration process. We count on your support.”

She emphasized that political dialogue between Chișinău and Vienna is strong and active, and that Austria’s support for projects in Moldova is concrete — amounting to over 32 million euros invested in rural development, green energy, infrastructure, and other areas.

The three committee chairs also attended the inauguration of the Gălești water treatment station, built with Austrian support, and visited several projects in Strășeni district.

Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee of Austria’s National Council, stated that EU enlargement is not an act of generosity but a strategic choice to strengthen Europe: “The resilience of Moldovan democracy strengthens the whole of Europe. Every time I return to Moldova, I see a country moving forward, a society that truly believes in democracy, people who continue to choose a European future. Moldova is at an important moment in its history — it no longer asks whether it belongs to the European space, but demonstrates to the EU the firmness of its commitment.”

Christine Schwarz‑Fuchs, Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Federal Council, added that Austria has long been a stable partner of Moldova: “Since 2004, Moldova has been a priority country for Austria’s external assistance, supporting areas such as education, water infrastructure, regional development, sustainable energy, and vocational training.”