From April 7-9, the foreign minister, Martin Lidegaard (R), will travel to Moldova and Georgia as part of ongoing efforts to support the two nations' bid to be included in co-operation and trade agreements with the EU.

Before travelling to the two eastern European countries, which are both expected to sign the EU-association agreements in June, Lidegaard will visit the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in Berlin on April 7.

“The goal of the visit is to send a strong signal about Denmark and the EU’s support for Moldova and Georgia,” Lidegaard said in a press release.

“The two nations have chosen to maintain a European path, and they want, despite being under pressure in various ways, co-operation and free trade agreements with the EU.”

Lidegaard went on to contend that an agreement with the EU would strengthen democracy, growth and employment in the two countries.

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Both nations making progress
During his stay, Lidegaard will meet with the political leaders of the two nations, civil society representatives and beneficiaries of Danish aid through the bilateral aid program for its EU neighbours, Naboskabsprogrammet.

“There is still a way to go, but both countries have made progress, which is positive,” Lidegaard said.

“In Georgia we have seen two examples of peaceful power transition in recent years, and in Moldova they have implemented reform within freedom of speech and the judicial sector.”

Lidegaard will open a green development conference in Moldova together with the Moldovan prime minister, and in Georgia he will meet the Danish representatives from the European Union Monitoring Mission.