Moldova will sign the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement with the EU by the end of 2014, Head of Parliament Igor Corman said in a press briefing held after his first working visit to Brussels as Speaker, IPN reports.

“It is realistic to sign the Association Agreement with the EU, which includes the Free Trade Agreement, by the end of next year. It is realistic for Moldova to be removed from the list of countries that need visas to travel to the EU by the end of 2014. But this can happen on two conditions,” said Igor Corman.

According to the Speaker, one of the conditions is Moldova’s internal agenda. “I do not refer only to the importance of adopting and implementing laws resulting from the Visa Liberalization Plan of Action, which refer to the free trade area. There are also other important matters such as the strengthening of democratic institutions, justice reform and fight against corruption,” stated the Head of Parliament.

The second condition refers to the situation in the EU, the technical procedures that must be finished. Igor Corman referred also to the fact that elections in the European Parliament will take place next May. “We must focus on both of these conditions. I think we will manage to achieve these goals if we have very good and efficient cooperation between our Foreign Ministry, the Government and Parliament. Each of them must do their duty,” he said, adding that the Association Agreement may be initialed at least partially at the Vilnius Summit of this November.

During his visit to Brussels on June 17-19, Igor Corman had meetings with a number of European officials.