The Ministry of Foreign Affaires and European Integration (MAEIE) instituted, as part of diplomatic missions and consular offices of Moldova abroad, Information Centres for Moldovan citizens. The centres are now being technically tested and will be functional starting February 2007. According to the MAEIE Press Service, the creation of the centres will imply the appointment of consuls or other diplomats as coordinators, who will be directly responsible of informing Moldovan citizens. Besides the continuous informing about the political and social-economic changes in the republic, the Centres will serve as contact points, contributing to the facilitation of the activity of Moldovan communities as well as to strengthening their connection with the Republic of Moldova. The creation of the Information Centres for Moldovan citizens is supported by the International Organisation for Migration within the frameworks of the joint Project MAEIE/IOM “Methods of improving services for vulnerable migrants and developing relations between Moldovan communities abroad and their Homeland”, implemented with the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moldova has 25 embassies, 3 permanent representations and a consulate general.