France and Moldova Sign Defence and Economic Cooperation Agreement
France and Moldova have signed an agreement on defence cooperation and a roadmap for economic cooperation until 2029. The signing ceremony took place at the Elysee Palace in the presence of the presidents of the two countries. This was announced by Moldovan President Maia Sandu during her visit to France.
At a joint briefing before the signing of the documents, Emmanuel Macron said that France would support Moldova on its path to the EU, and both countries would continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The joint statement for journalists notes that France, as a co-founder of the Support Platform for Moldova, helps to strengthen the republic's resilience and capacity in all areas. In particular, it reaffirms its readiness to contribute to a lasting and peaceful settlement of the conflict in Transnistria, including by providing technical assistance for the destruction of ammunition that poses a danger to the population of the region.
In addition, France and Moldova emphasise that Russia must respect its international commitments within the OSCE and withdraw its troops illegally stationed on the territory of Moldova.
"Moldova must be able to defend its neutrality, protect its territory and its people, and contribute to regional and international security in cooperation with its main partners, including France," the document says.
In turn, the bilateral economic roadmap aims to boost trade, diversify cooperation and increase French private investment in Moldova.
Earlier, France and Moldova signed an agreement covering military training, regular dialogue on defence issues, and intelligence sharing.
On 16 February, during a visit to Paris, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bilateral agreement on security cooperation with French President Emmanuel Macron.