In Chisinau, Dalia Grybauskaitė will be presented with Moldova's highest state award – the Order of the Republic of Moldova. The distinction was given to the Lithuanian President for her personal contribution to the development of the Moldovan-Lithuanian relations and for continued support to the efforts of Moldova's European integration.
In the run-up to the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, the Presidents of Lithuania and Moldova will discuss Moldova's progress in implementing eurointegration reforms and the strengthening of bilateral economic and political relations.
Moldova was among the first to recognize Lithuania's independence in 1990 though itself was still in the grip of the Soviet Union at that time.
Lithuanian experts help Moldova implement legal, financial and other reforms that are important for its European integration.
Moldova initialed the association and free trade agreement with the European Union in 2013, at the Eastern Partnership meeting in Vilnius when Lithuania was presiding over the Council of the EU, and signed it on 27 June 2014. Moldova also has a visa free regime with the EU since 2014 – more than 300 thousand people have already enjoyed it. These are important steps made by Moldova towards the advancement of its European transformation process.
