Moldova prepares for second stage of Action Plan with EU

Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca said the European officials approved of the progress made by the Moldovan authorities in a number of areas. On this occasion, the European Commission prepares a study of the impact of the Moldova – EU Action Plan that will enable to implement the second stage of the documents, Info-Prim Neo reports. He made related statements after a meeting of the Commission on European Integration on February 6. Among the areas in which Moldova made progress and were mentioned by European experts are border management, public services and implementation of European standards in a number of fields. Iurie Leanca said the national program for implementing the second stage of the Moldova – EU Action Plan includes additional measures that will be taken in the visa liberalization area. They concern the integrated border management, combating of corruption and organized crime, and cooperation with Europol. The minister said a delegation of the European Commission headed by the director of the Commission’s Department for Home Affairs will visit Chisinau on February 27. They will have discussions on the visa liberalization process. Iurie Leanca warned about the necessity of hastening the adoption of the package of laws on visa liberalization by Parliament. Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who chaired the Commission’s meeting, instructed the Ministry of Justice to make a through analysis of the bills that are to be passed by Parliament, stressing they should be of a high quality. Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said that there were presented four reports on the implementation of the Moldova – EU Action Plan, adding the agenda of the talks on the Free Trade Area and the team of negotiators were agreed. He informed that the first round of talks on the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area will take place in Chisinau on March 19-23. European Commissioner for Trade Karel de Gucht will come to Chisinau to take part in the official opening of the talks.