ROME (ITALPRESS) – Italy is a “key partner” for Moldova and its EU path. This is the opinion of Oleg Nica, Moldovan Ambassador to Rome, interviewed by Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the geopolitical column of the Italpress agency. According to Nica, bilateral relations “are based on solid political dialogue,” while in the European context, “Italy, as a founding member of the Union, represents a partner of primary importance for us.”
These institutional relations are intertwined with another factor: the human one, as Nica emphasizes. “Our community in Italy plays a very important role. It is the largest we have in a foreign country: approximately 300,000 people. It is a well-integrated, active community, involved in the economic, social, and cultural fabric of the country. It represents a true human, cultural, and economic bridge between our nations. The entry into force of the social security agreement, starting in September 2025, sends a strong signal to protect the rights of our citizens residing here in Italy and significantly contributes to improving their quality of life,” the ambassador specified.
Economically, too, “despite Moldova being a small country, economic relations are very dynamic,” according to the head of the Moldovan mission in Rome. “Moldova has strong growth potential. Bilateral trade reached approximately €700 million in 2025. Italy is Moldova’s fifth-largest trading partner, with a 5.6% share of total trade. In terms of investment, Italy ranks fourth, with approximately 1,100 companies operating in Moldova. Its proximity and European integration path, combined with ongoing reforms, continue to make the country more attractive, particularly in the sectors of green energy, modern agriculture, the agri-food industry, digitalization, and infrastructure,” Nica explained.
“I would also like to highlight the European Union’s approval of a growth plan for Moldova over the next two years, the Moldova Growth Plan, which provides approximately €1.8 billion for economic growth, reforms, and alignment with European standards,” he added.
“We are trying to organize a country presentation here in Rome for May, also involving SIMEST, SACE, the Farnesina, and Unioncamere. We will also bring representatives from Moldova, at the highest possible institutional level, to illustrate the country and the opportunities it currently offers,” the ambassador concluded.
A key focus for Chisinau is Rome’s support for its EU accession process. Italy, the diplomat noted, “is one of the main supporters” in this regard. This process began after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and saw Moldova receive candidate country status in June 2022. Since then, according to Nica, the country has made significant progress in reforms.
“According to the European Commission’s latest report, Moldova is already ready to open three clusters of negotiations. Our goal is ambitious: to complete all the necessary procedures for accession to the European Union by 2028, while consolidating the country’s democratic stability and economic growth, while also contributing to the stability and security of the entire region,” he stated.
In 2028, Italy will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, “and for us it would be a signal of enormous importance, both symbolic and political, to be ready to sign the Accession Treaty that year. Italy is home to a community of nearly 300,000 people, approximately 11% of the country’s population, and for this reason, Moldova’s accession would not only represent an enlargement of the European Union, but also a true reunification within the greater European family,” the diplomat commented.
The accession process takes place against a backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has had and continues to have a direct impact on the security of the entire region. “Our country remains exposed to attempts at external interference, especially through hybrid warfare, as was also evident during the recent referendum on Moldova’s accession to the European Union. One of the most commonly used tools to exert pressure on Moldova has been energy blackmail, accompanied by the illicit financing of pro-Russian political forces and disinformation campaigns, spread especially on social media. During the referendum, a huge flow of false narratives circulated, aimed at generating fear and confusion in our country. These are completely unfounded claims, designed exclusively to hinder our country’s European path,” the ambassador explained.
Closeness to Italy is therefore all the more important in an international context marked by divisions and hybrid threats. In this regard, the closeness between the two populations is also made tangible by cultural activities such as the one that will see the Mihai Eminescu Moldovan National Theater company on tour. “A prime example, and I take this opportunity to invite everyone, is the Mihai Eminescu National Theater’s tour, which will take place in Italy between the end of April and the beginning of May, with three stops in Rome, Bologna, and Venice. It will bring the show Dossier Siberiani, dedicated to the memory of the deportations, a very sad, painful, and dramatic page in our nation’s history. This initiative aims not only to engage the Moldovan community in Italy, but also the Italian public, so that history is not forgotten and we can understand what it meant to live under the Soviet regime,” said Nica. One last thing, but not least, unites the two peoples and two countries: wine, which Nica himself calls “our ambassador” to the world.
“It is our national pride. We have world-famous wineries, some of which are in the Guinness Book of Records. Over the past three years, Moldova has won 1,600 gold medals in various world championships. If we’re talking about the longest winery in the world, with 120 km of underground tunnels, it’s located in Chisinau and is called Cricova. It’s a winery worth visiting: I always recommend everyone to take a trip. We have connections to Italy from almost all regions, and in two or three days you can visit Moldova and its wineries. These are open to the public: you can take guided tours with electric cars underground, and there are restaurants 50 meters underground. It’s truly a sight to behold,” the ambassador concluded.
-Photo Italpress-
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