Common Application Centre to process 10,000 applications annually

The Common Application Centre, the opening of which is expected in early April, will be located in the premises of the Hungarian Embassy in Chisinau and will be able to handle at least 10,000 applications a year, a press release from the EC’s Delegation says, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to it, last year the European Commission suggested to EU Member States opening a joint visa issuance centre in Chisinau. The centre will facilitate travel for Moldovan citizens to the EU and improve consular co-operation on the ground between EU Member States. The initiative has been taken by Hungary with the assistance of Austria and Slovenia. Denmark, Estonia and Latvia announced their availability to participate as well. Other Member States are welcomed to participate now or at a later stage, in particular Schengen States not present in Chisinau. Visa applications for transit, airport transit and short-stay will be collected and sent at least once a week to processing consulates. Besides the hard copy of the application and the supporting documents a reusable smart card with the basic data of the applicant and the application will be attached to each applicant. The smart card will contain the photo of the applicant and later on the fingerprints as well. Romania is considering the possibility of opening a centre in Chisinau as well that should be closely coordinated with the Hungarian initiative. EU Delegation in Moldova is awaiting further details on this suggestion. The issue will be further discussed by the relevant Council working groups. According to the quoted source, the Commission emphasized the benefits of a facilitated visa agreement for Moldovan citizens and stands ready to start negotiations on visa facilitation immediately, back to back to the ongoing negotiations on a readmission agreement. Jointly, all these initiatives will contribute to closer relations between the EU and Moldova.