Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, is paying working visits to Chișinău and Budapest between 25 and 27 August.
The visits are part of the preparations for Cyprus' upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026.
In a press release, the Cyprus EU Council Presidency 2026 Secretariat said Raouna travelled to Chișinău on the afternoon of 24 August.
On Monday, 25 August she is scheduled to hold meetings with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolina Perebinos, and the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, Jānis Mažeiks.
During her contacts in the Moldovan capital, the Deputy Minister "will discuss the preparations for the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as Moldova's accession path, with an emphasis on the prospect of further progress ahead of the Cypriot Presidency" the press release added.
As part of her visit to Moldova, Raouna will also hold meetings on Monday and Tuesday, 26 August both in and outside of Chișinău, with civil society representatives from across the country. Additionally, she will visit EU-funded projects in the Strășeni district.
Following her visit, she will travel to Budapest. On Wednesday, 27 August, she will have a private meeting with her Hungarian counterpart, Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka. This will be followed by an extended meeting between the delegations of the two sides.
During her meetings in Budapest, the Deputy Minister will discuss current European issues in light of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency. She will also present the planning and policy priorities that the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will focus on.
(Source: CNA)
