Cecilia Malmstrom to meet with Filat, Lupu and ministers
European Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, who will pay a working visit to Chisinau on January 24, will have meetings with representatives of the country's administration and with a number of ministers, Valeriu Gheorghiu, the head of the Foreign Ministry's Division for European Integration, has told Info-Prim Neo.
Cecilia Malmstrom will meet with Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Acting President Marian Lupu and the ministers of foreign affairs, justice and internal affairs. She will also visit the Common Visa Issuing Center, the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons of the Ministry of the Interior, and the Temporary Placement Center for Foreigners.
According to Valeriu Gheorghiu, the European official is to take part in a conference themed “Eastern Partners' Contribution to the Stockholm Program: synergies for improving mobility and strengthening security”. The event is organized by the Foreign Ministry in concert with the International Center for Migration Policy Development.
Cecilia Malmstrom comes to Chisinau in connection with the granting of the Plan of Action for the Liberalization of the Visa Regime to Moldova by the EU.
Valeriu Gheorghiu said the Plan of Action contains two chapters. The first refers to the legislative framework that will ensure the law and order, the management of the border and migration. The second contains definite actions that will be monitored by the European Commission. “We already removed a part of the identified shortcomings. After Moldova fulfills all the conditions, the European Council will decide when the Moldovans will be able to travel visa-free in the EU,” Valeriu Gheorghiu said.
Premier designate Vlad Filat said earlier that Moldova will receive the Plan of Action on January 14. Valeriu Gheorghiu said the Prime Minister was misinformed by his consultants as the Plan of Action will be granted on January 24 and this date was agreed with the European officials several months ago.