Over 30 experts of the Bureau for Reintegration and other Ministries and Agencies, members of the working groups engaged in the Transnistrian settlement process in the fields of transport, education, economy, environment and combatting of crime, took part in a workshop aimed at increasing their coordination and effectiveness.

A number of EU High-Level Advisers currently working in the Republic of Moldova engaged in discussions, sharing their experiences and advice on the current issues of the negotiation process.

Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Gheorghe Balan opened the workshop mentioning that “working groups’ members are those who are expected to promote and guard the principles of the Transnistrian settlement Vision on a daily basis”. He encouraged the working group members to be more active, better organised and better prepared for the negotiations. He stressed that “more effective and result-oriented working groups, coupled with higher initiative and resolve to create technical conditions for removing obstacles and solving existing problems in accordance with the Vision guidelines is very much needed and will be encouraged”.

A number of recommendations on improving the effectiveness of the working group meetings were presented at the concluding session, where the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Pirkka Tapiola took also part. He confirmed the EU’s persistence “to be actively involved in the Transnistrian settlement process, helping both sides to move towards reintegration of the country”.