The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration hopes the negotiation on a new legal arrangement between the European Union and Moldova will be launched in the first half of 2009, said Iulian Groza, department head at the Ministry, during a “European Reporter” event on Friday. Groza has pointed out that that prospect is real. “The drafting of negotiation mandate is at its final stage and we expect it to be approved by the end of 2008, with the support of France's EU presidency. The French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, has assured Moldova of the backing of the French presidency in this respect. At the same time, we have the support of the Czech Republic, which will take over the EU presidency in 2009”, said Groza. According to him, the Ministry has already started preparations for the upcoming negotiation process, including staff selection and training. “At present, we have three major objectives: to ensure, internally, the consistency of reforms; to prepare for the launch of the negotiations; and to make efforts to eventually benefit from a liberalized visa regime”, said Iulian Groza. He further stated that the intention to adjust the legal arrangement for Moldova was confirmed on October 13, when the Council of the European Union adopted the Conclusions on Moldova - “a very important political decision for Moldova”. However, the EU reiterated the need for constant progress in realizing the commitments that Moldova assumed in key sectors. At the same time, Victor Chirila, program director at the Foreign Policy Association, pointed out that the Conclusions didn't say whether Moldova itself was ready to start the talks. On the contrary, the Council pointed to a series of unfulfilled undertakings and retrogressions. Later, on October 22-23, the meeting of the Moldova-EU Cooperation Commission didn't result in the adoption of a final resolution. The reason is, Chirila says, that the EU delegates had several objections, in particular concerning the recent amending of the electoral legislation, and the Moldovan delegates refused to put their signatures under such a text. Victor Chirila says that Moldova's endeavor to get a new agreement with the EU is great, but we should be aware that it will not exceed the scope of the Neighborhood Policy, nor will it be part of EU's enlargement policy. He thinks that until the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU is not ready to accept any country, except Croatia, which might join in 2011.