A double mission of Italy's President
Sergio Mattarella is about to start to one of Europe's most
focused areas: Mattarella will be from Monday June 17 to
Wednesday June 19 in Chisinau and Bucharest.
The visit to Moldova is particularly important for the
country's geopolitical position and raises attention being the
first ever by an Italian head of state.
Mattarella thus continues to build his relations always
focusing on strengthening of the European Union. Italy's
President has long been pushing for enlargements to countries
seeking entry such as, first of all, those in the Western
Balkans. His visit to Moldova represents a gesture of attention
to the eastern part of Europe.
Romania and Moldova are two Ukraine-bordering countries, and
fears of Russian aggression encroaching beyond Kiev are tangible
even among the population. The positions of Bucharest and
Chisinau are quite different: Romania has already been enjoying
the EU's protective umbrella for years whereas Moldova is
suspended in the middle ground and is pushing to join the EU as
a precautionary measure.
Mattarella will land Monday afternoon in Chisinau, then he's
going to visit the Palace of the Republic welcomed by President
Sandu. On Tuesday 18 morning he will see Sandu again, with whom
there will be a new bilateral discussion. After moving to
Bucharest, Mattarella will meet the following day with President
Klaus Iohannis, who is at the end of his term.
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