The EU Transport Council on Thursday evening granted the mandate to Moldova to start negotiations on a Common Aviation Area agreement. Commenting on the news at a Friday press briefing, Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat said the agreement would be beneficial to all the citizens of Moldova, adding that a national team of negotiators would be created shortly, Info-Prim Neo reports. “This decision represents the result of the common efforts made by the Government's team. Our goal is to have these negotiations finalized by the end of the year so that we can see Moldova become a member country of the European Common Aviation Area”, declared Vlad Filat. According to the prime minister, such an agreement of liberalized aviation services would allow to the Moldovan airlines to extend their activity in the EU, would stimulate competition on the market, would improve services, which would lead to a higher number of tourists, and, most importantly, would reduce airfares. Vlad Filat also said that the agreement will contribute to the appearance of low cost flights and a greater presence of EU airlines in Moldova.