Moldova and EU likely to start visa liberalization talks

The opening of talks on the liberalization of the visa regime for Moldovan citizens could be discussed at the December 21 meeting of the Moldova-EU Cooperation Committee. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero Waldner at a news conference on November 27, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the European Commissioner, this is a long-term objective of the new agreement between Moldova and the EU that will be negotiated as from January 12, 2010. “We plan to raise this subject at the next meeting of the Moldova-EU Cooperation Committee that we hope will take place by Christmas, December 25. If this issue is discussed, the negotiations will last long, but in several years the Moldovans will enjoy this benefit,” Benita Ferrero Waldner said. According to the Commissioner, the talks will be multidimensional and will require results in border management, trafficking in human beings and other areas. Premier Vlad Filat said the Moldovan people will benefit from a liberalized visa regime when Moldova complies with the EU norms and standards. Asked if the Transnistrian dispute does not hinder the developments in this direction, Benita Ferrero Waldner said she trusts the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM).