Grande-Marlaska strengthens cooperation with Moldova with the delivery of security equipment to combat organised crime

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, with his Moldovan counterpart, Adrian Efros

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, stressed on Thursday in Chisinau the "excellent cooperation" in security between Spain and Moldova, "which has been strengthened in the last two years, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine", he said.

The minister made these remarks during his meeting with the country's president, Maia Sandu, with whom he agreed on the good results of the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Moldova on cooperation in matters of security and the fight against crime, signed in 2013 and in force since 2015.

Grande-Marlaska took advantage of the meeting to express the Spanish government's support for the process initiated by Moldova in June 2022 for its accession to the European Union, which culminated in the granting of candidate country status last December, within the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU.

The minister also met with his Moldovan counterpart, Adrian Efros, to whom he conveyed Spain's cooperation with Moldova, "which is experiencing very closely" the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "The European Union and Spain have reacted immediately and with unprecedented and expeditious measures in different areas, including home affairs," he stressed.

Along these lines, during the visit, the Moldovan Ministry for Home Affairs took delivery of computer equipment, including 140 rugged tablets, 140 monitors, 30 portable printers and 240 body cameras, as well as the necessary software licences for the use of the electronic and digital devices.

"After completing the appropriate formalities and procedures, it gives me great satisfaction to be able to respond to the Moldovan request and to deliver equipment and IT resources today to strengthen the capacities of the Moldovan Ministry of Home Affairs in the fight against organised crime and trafficking in human beings and firearms," said Grande-Marlaska.

During the meeting between the two home affairs ministers, the agreement on reciprocal recognition and exchange of national driving licences - approved last Tuesday in the Council of Ministers - was also signed, which "will facilitate the daily lives of many Moldovan citizens living in Spain and of Spaniards in Moldova", the minister said.

Only in the case of holders of driving licences applying for exchange for driving licences equivalent to those of the classes reserved for professional drivers of buses and lorries, must they pass a driving test on roads open to general traffic.

Non official translation