Victor CHIRILĂ, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania, at FERM 2025: “We need to unite not only through words, but through real things”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025 | The Moldova Regional Economic Forum brought together, over the course of four days, key stakeholders from local and central government, the business sector, academia, NGOs, and international organizations to discuss the future of a region at a turning point.
During the Moldova Regional Economic Forum (FERM), His Excellency Victor Chirilă, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania, delivered a powerful message of unity, vision, and regional commitment. Highlighting the importance of deep cross-border cooperation between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine, the ambassador underscored the strategic role of infrastructure, energy security, and European integration in the reconstruction and modernization process of the region.
Ukraine’s Reconstruction – a Regional Opportunity for Interconnection
At the beginning of his speech, Ambassador Chirilă emphasized the conceptual importance of the Forum as a strategic convergence platform between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. He proposed the development of a strategic concept called the “Moldova Hub” – focused on connectivity, security, and investments – as a response to the current regional dynamics and as a cornerstone of reconstruction and European integration.
“The day of peace and reconstruction will come – not only for Ukraine, which has paid the terrible price of military aggression, but also for the Republic of Moldova and Romania. Ukraine’s reconstruction is an opportunity for all of us: to connect economically, socially, and infrastructurally, and to strengthen our collective security.”
Romania – Strategic Partner, Energy Security Guarantor and European Vector
The ambassador reaffirmed Romania’s role as the main economic and political partner of the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing the unwavering support offered by Bucharest over the past decades.
“Today, we are closer to Romania than ever before. This is due both to Romania’s unconditional support, regardless of the political cycles in Chișinău, and to our joint commitment to European integration.”
Victor Chirilă stressed the energy independence achieved by the Republic of Moldova with Romania’s support, through essential infrastructure projects:
- Iași–Ungheni–Chișinău gas pipeline;
- Reverse flows on the Trans-Balkan pipeline;
- Expansion of the energy interconnection network in partnership with Greece and Bulgaria.
“Today, Romania is not only our number one trading partner but also the guarantor of our energy security.”
Modern Cross-Border Infrastructure – Foundation for Economic Integration
One of the ambassador’s major priorities was the accelerated physical integration of the two Romanian-speaking states, through strategic infrastructure projects:
- completion and modernization of nine road and rail bridges over the Prut River;
- development of the Bălți–Suceava high-voltage line;
- construction of the Union Motorway, extended to Odessa;
- extension of the European-gauge railway from Iași to Chișinău and later Odessa;
- full interconnection in gas and electricity networks;
“Our unity must be reflected in concrete realities – in bridges, highways, power lines, European railway lines, gas pipelines. This is the modern form of our unity.”
Strategic Objective: Republic of Moldova’s Accession to the European Union by 2029
The diplomat presented an ambitious roadmap for the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union, mentioning that official negotiations will begin in the autumn of 2025, starting with the cluster dedicated to fundamental values.
“We aim to open negotiations for all six thematic clusters by the end of this year. By 2028–2029, we target the conclusion of negotiations and the signing of the Accession Treaty.”
Integration into the European single market will strengthen the irreversible economic convergence between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, representing a natural extension of the Romanian economic space at the European level.
Strategic Cooperation for the Management of Pre-Accession Funds
Starting in 2028, the Republic of Moldova will have access to EU pre-accession instruments (IPA III). Ambassador Chirilă emphasized the need for deeper collaboration with Romanian authorities, financial institutions, and expertise centers in EU fund management:
“We need your support to build feasible projects that accelerate regional development and fully capitalize on European support.”
Conclusions: From Vision to Action – A Joint Program for Prosperity
In closing his remarks, His Excellency Victor Chirilă, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania, emphasized the need for the Moldova Regional Economic Forum (FERM) to evolve beyond the status of a simple dialogue platform, becoming a true laboratory of applied ideas and strategic initiatives. According to the diplomat, regional cooperation must materialize in a coherent action framework anchored in concrete projects with real impact on connectivity, economic development, and the European integration of the entire region.
The ambassador called for the mobilization of technical expertise, institutional resources, and political will from all involved actors – governments, local authorities, the business environment, international organizations – to jointly build an integrated development program. This program should reflect both the shared interests and current challenges of the extended region, in the context of post-conflict reconstruction, energy transition, and a common European outlook.
