Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac said that, should he become Romania's prime minister, he already has several priorities aimed at bringing Romanian and Moldovan citizens closer together, citing as an example his wish to see an integrated education system that is virtually identical in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

He was responding to a question about what he would do, as prime minister, to help Moldova join the European Union as quickly as possible.

'The Republic of Moldova will certainly join the European Union. What I would like to do, however, is more for the citizens of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, and I have three priorities regarding our relationship with Moldova.

I would very much like us to rapidly conclude an agreement on the creation of a common communications space, so that all media entities, radio stations and television channels from Romania have free access to the Moldovan market and, reciprocally, those from Moldova have access to the Romanian media market. This would greatly help the Republic of Moldova strengthen its resilience against the propaganda of the Russian Federation, which is very aggressive in Moldova.

I would also very much like us to build strong bridges for future generations and to have an integrated education system, virtually identical in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, and this depends on decisions taken by the two governments,' Eugen Tomac said on Thursday in an interview with RFI Romania.

He stressed that such measures would complement the European integration process.

'I would like us to have joint academic competitions between pupils from Romania and the Republic of Moldova because, although we are two independent states, Romanians form the majority population in both Romania and Moldova and, from this perspective, we have both a moral and an institutional obligation to act in this direction.

I have already informed colleagues in Chisinau of this intention. Last but not least, I would very much like to encourage sporting competitions and activities involving federations from both countries because I believe this dimension should be promoted and, why not, even have a Romania-Moldova Cup.

In this regard, I want us to move beyond the mindset of ‘we know each other, we respect each other, but each of us deals with our own affairs'. We must have the courage to move forward and develop much bolder projects, and that is my vision,' Tomac said.

In the same context, he was asked whether, as prime minister, he would take steps towards the unification of Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

'I will work every day towards bringing the two sides of the Prut closer together, so that citizens in Romania and the Republic of Moldova can get to know one another better and, naturally, when they decide, they will have all the appropriate conditions.

We already have a parliamentary resolution from 2018 in which the Romanian state explicitly states that it is ready at any time to discuss the scenario of the Republic of Moldova uniting with Romania when Chisinau is prepared. I say openly and unequivocally that I am ready to manage such a process,' Tomac stated. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)