European Union will grant financial aid to Moldova of up to EUR 45 million

After an official visit to Brussels, Moldova’s Speaker Marian Lupu declared that by the end of this year the European Committee will present the Council of Ministers a proposal to grant the Republic of Moldova a financial aid of up to EUR 40-45 million. The Moldovan Parliament delegation returned to Chisinau on Saturday night. According to the speaker, the first part of the aid will be granted probably by the end of 2006 – beginning of 2007. The technical aid offered to the Republic of Moldova will also be increased. Marian Lupu declared that the matter of asymmetric trade was also discussed in Brussels. During the week a group of European experts worked in Chisinau, and the results of their activity will be presented next week. Moldova has found in Brussels political support of the European Parliament, and according to the cited source, the decision will be made at the beginning of October. There are very high chances of a positive outcome, Lupu estimated. One of the discussion topics in Brussels was the opening of a joint center for visa applications. Chisinau was assured this center will be created, and Hungary will be the leading country in this system. The speaker stated that the Moldovan diplomacy has the most important role, and namely – undertaking discussions with all member countries, not just Brussels, to assure that the Center will be a representative one. The Center will achieve its goal when all EU member countries that do not have an embassy in Chisinau will be present in this structure, the head of the legislative body mentioned. The parliamentary delegation from Chisinau also discussed the possible visa issuance facilitation agreement for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. “The center doesn’t substitute this agreement and these kinds of netiations are still necessary. Moldova needs this agreement and got support from political movements that by the end of this year a warrant for commencing negotiations with the Republic of Moldova will be issued”, Marian Lupu specified. The delegation was formed from Irina Vlah (PCRM), Serafim Urecheanu (AMN), Marcel Raducan (PDM) and Angela Leahu (PPCD).