Both the government and the Communist opposition want the visa regime with the European Union to be liberalized. Moreover, the Communists will not take steps to hamper the government from obtaining a liberalized visa regime for the people. The issue was discussed by the MPs invited to the program “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1, IPN reports.
Communist lawmaker Grigore Petrenco said the Communist Party is for the liberalization of the visa regime as it wants the people to travel freely and not to pay taxes at consulates. “But we think that this decision should be taken by the European Parliament until April, when it will hold its last session, as the election campaign will then start. It would be thus able to return to the subject in autumn. We must say thank you to the Ukrainians. The promises for us are a reaction to what is going on there. The Europeans want to show that the Moldovans are disciplined. It is a political decision. Our party did nothing to hinder this process and supports it fully,” he stated.
Liberal MP Valeriu Munteanu said the Liberal Party will support Moldova’s European course and will supervise the government’s actions. “It should be noted that European Commissioner Stefan Fule said the EU cannot tolerate Moldova everything, especially the violation of the Constitution. We show almost weekly that the government violates it. If they continue to make mistakes, they will endanger the integration into the EU. Furthermore, after Stefan Fule visited Gagauzia, he said frankly that those people do not know what European integration means. The government does many things, but does not inform the people,” he added.
Liberal-Democratic MP Valeriu Ghiletski is practically convinced that in spring Moldova will obtain a visa-free regime and considers that only an emergency can change the situation. “The EU policy is more predictable than our policy. The EU report of last year was already a precondition for liberalizing the visa regime. The EU wouldn’t have promised if it hadn’t been sure. The ruling parties of Moldova form part of the family of large European parties that support our country’s course. The government understands that a campaign to inform the people is needed, while the people must learn to respect the law,” he stated.
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs is to pronounce on the issue by February 12, while the European Parliament plenary – in March. The national and European officials said the Moldovans will obtain a liberalized visa regime most probably by May.
