Moldova pleads for the same visa regime with EU as the one offered to Balkan states

[Info-Prim Neo interview with the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Valeriu Ostalep] [ - MFAEI announced previously it will solicit signing an agreement with the European Union on facilitating visa regime for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. What negotiations are carried out for this and when such an agreement will be signed?] Due to the efforts undertaken by the Government, the European Commission accepted starting in the first half of 2006 a dialogue regarding the facilitation of the visa regime. On June 7, 2006, in Brussels will take place the first round of consultations within which the Moldovan and European Commission experts will discuss about the necessity of starting talks on the facilitation of visa regime between the European Community and the Republic of Moldova during 2006. Taking into consideration the fact that opening talks on the agreement regarding the facilitation of visa regime is one of the national priorities for 2006, an inter-ministerial Work Group was created in Moldova and it has already elaborated the draft National Plan of actions for facilitating the EU-Moldova visa regime. On external level the intention to initiate negotiations with the European Commission on this issue as fast as possible, preferably until January 1, 2007 was elaborated and sent to the European institutions as well as to EU member countries. [- What are the conditions required by Brussels for signing the agreement with Moldova] According to EU procedures, in order to launch negotiations on agreements that are to be signed between the European Commision and other countries, namely Moldova, at first the Council of Europe have to give this mandate to the European Commission. In this context, the consultations in June are an important stage for the decision made by the Council of Europe on the opportunity of launching negotiations with Moldova. At the same time, launching negotiations depends on several factors, especially the actions of the Republic of Moldova directed to the strengthening the national migration system, eastern border security ensuring and integrated management, the necessity of regulating the migration inflow between the Republic of Moldova and main source countries, transit and destination of the illegal migration. [- What advantages is Chisinau demanding and what can EU offer?] For the moment, it is important for us to open, as soon as possible, the negotiations on facilitating the visa regime. In order to achieve this goal we will present to the European Commission all the necessary arguments for supporting this position. But it is too early to formulate certain demands and to wait proposals from the European Union referring to the visa regime facilitating modality. What is for sure is that according to the common policy of EU, facilitating the visa regime does not mean liberalization of the visa regime, but rather easing the remittance procedures. At the same time, if taking into consideration our European integration aspirations, recognized as a matter of fact by many EU member states and also the high level of regional cooperation, especially within the Stability Pact for the South-Eastern Europe and the Cooperation Process in the South-Eastern Europe, Moldova will opt for a visa regime as the one offered to the Balkan states. [- What are the benefits and the possible risks for Moldova if signing this agreement?] Signing this agreement includes a series of benefits, and the most important will be: the intensification of the contacts between the Moldovan and EU citizens; the considerable reduction of Moldovan migrants without documents; facilitating the procedures and conditions needed for the remittance of visa. Signing this agreement will allow the gradual exclusion of Moldova from the EU negative list, which will contribute finally to canceling the visas. As regards to possible risks, these can be generated only by the human factor. This is the reason why, in order to avoid these risks it is necessary to inform the beneficiaries of the visas about their rights and obligations, and also about the consequences which might occur if braking the rules. [- How this agreement will influence relationships with EU and the European path of Moldova?] Favorably. Signing the agreement will be another proof of the high level of relationships between the Republic of Moldova and EU, so it opens new perspectives for achieving the goal of European Integration. By the actions which are undertaken in the country an as well abroad, by intensifying and expanding the active participation in the cooperation processes in South-Eastern Europe Moldova moves forward to EU.