The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration has started preparations for the upcoming negotiations on the new legal agreement between Moldova and the European Union, Minister Andrei Stratan announced today at the meeting of the National Commission for European Integration, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to him, the preparatory measures, amond other, include appointing negotiators, training them and organizing trips for them to EU member countries. Speaking about the measures taken to advance Moldova on its path to European integration, Stratan said: “the Republic of Moldova has been recently assured here in Chisinau of the French EU presidency's support in this sense. At the same time, the Moldovan authorities must ensure an irreproachable progress in implementing reform in the areas of human rights, the rule of law, democracy and the investment climate”. The Foreign Minister informed that during the meeting of the Moldova-EU Cooperation Committee, the European Commission delegation praised Moldova for its efforts to implement European standards. However, there were pointed out certain flaws, like limitations on trade which affect the beneficiaries of the Autonomous Trade Preferences (environment tax on import of goods in plastic and tetra-pack packaging; additional tax on sugar import); flaws in the investment climate (in particular in the banking and insurance systems); defects in competition rules, etc. Outlining the priorities for the immediate future in the relationship with the EU, Stratan said Moldova would petition for a visa-free regime for its citizens. “This proposal has been already submitted to the EU member states, and the first reactions are encouraging”, said the Minister.