Norway is expanding its cooperation with Moldova and providing a new NOK 350 million from the Nansen programme, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced when he met President Maia Sandu on Tuesday. Norwegian aid to Moldova increased sharply last year. The country is now the seventh largest recipient of Norwegian aid.
– Moldova is strongly affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. They are exposed to massive Russian disinformation campaigns and the economy is badly affected by the war in the neighboring country, says Prime Minister Støre.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre hold a press conference on 7 May. Photo: Andreas Bondevik / Prime Minister’s Office
The unstable security situation in Moldova was at the top of the agenda when Støre and Sandu met on Tuesday morning. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has made the situation in Moldova difficult, particularly in energy security and hybrid threats.
– That is why Moldova, as the only neighboring country to Ukraine, receives support through the Nansen package. This support has so far mainly gone to cover humanitarian needs, energy security and reform work. The support of 350 million will be used, among other things, to develop the collaboration to include several sectors, including education and good governance, says Støre.
Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi, Energy Minister Victor Parlicov and Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi also attended the meeting.
Norwegian aid to Moldova increased strongly in 2023, compared to previous years. This is evident from statistics that the Directorate for Development Cooperation, Norad, presented today. Moldova received NOK 799 million in 2023 and is now the seventh largest recipient country of Norwegian aid. The support was the largest for the energy sector, with NOK 410 million. NOK 278 million went to emergency aid, as a result of the refugee situation in the country.
The government has recently decided to open a Norwegian embassy office in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova.
– The backdrop for the state visit is gloomy. Russia’s war of aggression has worsened the security political situation in Europe. But Moldova is an inspiring example of how democratization and progress can happen even under the most demanding circumstances, says Prime Minister Støre.
The two-day state visit from Moldova began on 6 May, when President Sandu was welcomed by the King and Queen. The President also met the President of the Storting and the Storting’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee during the first day of the visit. The day ended with a gala dinner at the Royal Palace.
The second day of the state visit included a meeting with the Prime Minister and lunch with the government, as well as a visit to the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy and the University of Oslo to discuss Moldova’s path towards democratization and European integration with research communities and students.