Visit helps cement strong bilateral relations between the UK and Moldova
From Monday 18 November to Wednesday 20 November BGIPU hosted a delegation from the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova led by Radu Marian MP, Chair of the Friendship Group with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He was joined by Tatiana Cunetchi MP, Chair of the Committee on Public Finance Oversight, and Marcela Nistor MP, a member of the UK Friendship Group.
The delegation began their visit with a meeting with Elizabeth Hunt, Clerk of the Inter-Parliamentary Relations Office, who gave them an overview of the Westminster parliamentary system. They then met with Rick Nimmo, Director of BGIPU, who explained both BGIPU’s role and the role of the IPU globally. This was followed by a welcome lunch hosted by Jess Morden MP and also attended by Dame Harriett Baldwin MP, Phil Brickell MP, Rachel Gilmour MP, and Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, at which the delegation provided an update on Moldova’s recent presidential election and EU referendum and the interference by Russia in both.
The delegation then had a meeting at the Department for Business and Trade with Philippa Saunders, Deputy Director for China, Eastern Europe and Central Asia which focused on increasing UK-Moldova trade ties and the desire to improve relations further. Following this, they returned to Parliament to meet with the Treasury Committee where they discussed the Committee’s role in government scrutiny, Moldova’s battle against corruption and the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on the Moldovan economy. The delegation finished the first day of the visit by meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee, where the discussion focused on Russian attempts at interference in Moldova and the battle against it, as well as UK support for Moldova’s reforms, its battle against disinformation, and for independent media in Moldova via the BBC.
The second day of the visit began with a tour of Parliament hosted by Chris Webb MP. They then attended a roundtable meeting with UK parliamentarians hosted by the Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP, who was joined by Richard Foord MP, Stephen Gethins MP, John Slinger MP, Alex Sobel MP, Rt Hon Lord Spellar, and Lord Wasserman. The discussion focused on Moldova’s recent elections and referendum, upcoming parliamentary election, Russian interference, Moldova’s economic situation and the battle against corruption. Following this they met with members of the UK Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe where topics included Moldova’s upcoming presidency of the Council of Europe’s Council of Ministers as well as the Council of Europe’s role in election monitoring.
After a working lunch hosted by Lord Dubs and attended by Johanna Baxter MP, Chris Law MP, Baroness Ludford, Alex Sobel MP, Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP and Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, they headed over to the Ministry of Defence for a meeting with Lord Coaker, Minister of State. This meeting emphasised the strong defence relationship between the UK and Moldova while respecting Moldova’s constitutional neutrality. Returning to Parliament, the delegation met with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee where the discussion included the desire for a British Council presence in Moldova. The second day ended with a meeting with the Defence Committee, to discuss UK defence support for Moldova, the situation in Transnistria and the impact on Moldova of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The third and final day of the visit began with a meeting with the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee, where the discussion covered Moldova’s recent elections and referendum and Russian interference in both, the respective foreign policy positions of the Moldovan Government and opposition, and Moldova’s hopes for EU integration. Following this the delegation met with Shadow Foreign Minister Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP for a wide ranging discussion covering Russian interference in Moldova’s elections, UK support for Moldova’s security, BBC projects in Moldova, energy issues, and increasing UK-Moldova trade. The delegation then attended Prime Minister’s Questions before a working lunch hosted by Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley MP, Chair of the Home Affairs Committee and Treasurer of BGIPU, which was also attended by newly elected BGIPU Chair Fabian Hamilton MP, Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns, Rt Hon Baroness Blackstone, Baroness Blower, Rt Hon Lord Dholakia, and Lord Wasserman.
Following lunch, the delegation met with Mark Clayton, Deputy Director for Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office where the discussion included the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Moldova that same day, during which several agreements had been signed, and the desire to continue to strengthen UK-Moldova bilateral relations in a variety of areas. They then returned to Parliament for their final meeting of the visit, with Shadow Secretary of State for Defence James Cartlidge MP, to discuss UK support for Moldova’s security, Russian interference in Moldova, and mutual strong support for Ukraine.
Overall it was a highly successful visit which helped to cement strong bilateral relations between the UK and Moldova, and particularly to demonstrate the UK’s support for Moldova in the wake of large-scale Russian interference in the country’s presidential elections and referendum. BGIPU would like to thank the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova who were particularly supportive throughout.
Moldova Delegation meets Chair and members of the UK House of Commons Defence Committee
Moldova Delegation meets Chair and members of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee
Moldova Delegation meets Minister of State at Ministry of Defence, Lord Coaker
Moldova Delegation met with Shadow Foreign Minister Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP
