Moldova opens negotiations with EU countries regarding a facilitated visa regime for Moldovan citizens

The Moldovan Government approved Wednesday November 8 a national Plan of actions that stipulates starting negotiations with the EU countries regarding the facilitation of the visa regime for the Moldovan citizens. Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Andrei Stratan mentioned that the negotiations are expected to start in December and will last from 2007 to 2008. He reminded that the item related to the facilitation of the visa regime for Moldova was examined at the meeting of the EU Ministers of Internal Affairs and of Justice, recently held in Luxemburg. According to the minister, at this meeting there was adopted a decision by which the European Commission was given the mandate to open negotiations with Moldova relating to the facilitation of the visa regime. Stratan voiced his hope that a decision favorable to the Moldovan citizens will be adopted in the period from 4 to 5 December, when it is planned for a new meeting of the ministers. Stratan said that this subject, as well as the creation in Chisinau of the European Center for visa issuance, were brought up for discussion by President Vladimir Voronin and European Commission during his official visit in Brussels this summer as well. Head of the delegation of the European Commission to Moldova, Cesare de Montis stated earlier that EU structures had received the permission to start discussions with Chisinau authorities on this subject, but the EU member states will have to individually decide on the granting of a facilitated visa regime for the Moldovan citizens. During the official visit in Brussels this autumn, Moldovan speaker Marian Lupu asserted that one of the subjects tackled in the European capital was that regarding a joint center for visa issuance. He declared he obtained the confirmation that such a center will be created, and the country playing the leading role in this system is Hungary. In the same context, he said he received the support of the political groups that a mandate for starting negotiations between Moldova and EU countries regarding the agreement on a facilitated visa regime for Moldovan citizens will be issued by the end of the current year.