Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, highly appreciates the progress Moldova has made in fulfilling the Moldova-EU Action Plan and believes that, step by step, a new form of cooperation between the European Union and Moldova will be developed. There is room for furthering the relationship between the two parties, while Moldova is expected to take part in regional projects together with the EU members, which will draw our country nearer to the European initiatives, the EU official stated during his visit to Chisinau. According to Franco Frattini, the EU will continue assisting Moldova in its European aspiration. Brussels decided to increase funding for the small farms and for supporting the country’s food security as a result of this year’s severe drought. 40 million euros are to be offered for this purpose. At the same time, Brussels is considering other projects for Moldova, including expanding the mandate of the Border Assistance Mission. During his visit to Chisinau, the Vice-President of the European Commission handed over to President Vladimir Voronin the recently signed Visa Facilitation and Readmission agreements, trusting that the required procedures will be successfully fulfilled so as to have the mentioned agreements in effect starting January 2008.