The first round of consultations between Moldova and the European Union on the Association Agenda is taking place today in Chisinau, IPN learned from the MFAEI's press service.

The Moldovan delegation is headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iulian Groza; and the EU delegation by Dirk Schuebel, Head of the Unit for Eastern Partnership of the European External Action Service.

The Association Agenda is a technical instrument representing a plan for the next three years to be followed in implementing the Association Agreement, which Moldova initialed in November 2013 at the Vilnius Summit. It will also help our country with creating the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

At the consultations, discussions will center on political dialogue, reforms, the foreign and security policies, cooperation in the field of justice, freedom and security, economic cooperation and trade-related issues.

The next round will take place in February. The intention is to finalize the consultations on the Agenda by the time Moldova is to sign the Association Agreement with the EU.

Talks between the European Union and Moldova on the Association Agreement were launched on 19 December 2013 in a video-conference.