Opening of dialogue on elimination of visas is a historical moment for Moldova, Vlad Filat

“The opening of the dialogue on the elimination of visas is a historical moment for Moldova. Yesterday, we launched the dialogue and now it depends on us how quickly it will end so that our citizens are able to travel freely via Europa,” Premier Vlad Filat said in a news conference on June 16, after the meeting of the Moldova-EU Cooperation Council held in Luxemburg, Info-Prim Neo reports. The EU proposed a document that describes the steps that Moldova must take to obtain a liberalized visa regime. Among the reforms that must be implemented is the introduction of biometric passports, delimitation of the border with Ukraine on the Transnistrian segment and outfitting of the border crossing points with equipment that reads biometric data. “Moldova is a European state with European citizens and the liberalization of the visa regime will allow eliminating the artificial barriers that separate the European people,” the Premier said. He stressed that a report on the results achieved in negotiating the Association Agreement with the EU was approved in Luxemburg for the first time after the initiation of the talks. The Moldovan delegation also took part in the meeting of the group of Moldova's friends that includes 19 EU member states and met with the President of the European Investment Bank Philippe Maystadt. In the first meeting, Poland proposed allocating €50 million in support to Moldova to help it make progress on the path to European integration. The other states accepted the proposal. Philippe Maystadt said the Bank is ready to strengthen cooperation with Moldova in road infrastructure, energy sector and development of the SME sector. While in Luxemburg, the Premier had meetings with a number of officials of this country, including his counterpart Jean-Claude Juncker. The two officials agreed to organize a Moldovan-Luxembourgian forum in Chisinau, which could coincide with Juncker's visit to Moldova set to take place in autumn. There was also signed an agreement on social security between Moldova and Luxemburg.