Agreement on EU visa regime facilitation could come into force in 2007

The Agreement on the EU visa regime facilitation for Moldovan citizens could enter in force by the end of 2007, stated Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the European Commission, European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, at a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Stratan. According to a press release from the Ministry, the European official reiterated his engagement to organise in a constructive and prompt manner the negotiations on the Agreement, so that it comes into force in this year. The fact that the EU member states unanimously authorised the Commission to handle the visa regime facilitation agreement is, in Frattini’s opinion, a proof that Moldova enjoys support in its European integration process. At the same time, the European official emphasised on the actions undertaken by Moldovan authorities in collaboration with the EU member states towards the opening of the Joint centre for visa issuance in Chisinau and confirmed his willingness to participate in its inauguration in April. The first round of negotiations on the issue related to visa regime facilitation for Moldovan citizens will take place on February 9, in Brussels. On December 19, 2006, the EU Council of Ministers authorised the European Commission to negotiate the Agreement on visa regime facilitation and the Agreement on readmission between the European Union and Moldova. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, it is already known that the agreement on visa regime facilitation will stipulate a series of advantageous conditions for the procedures of visa issuance for Moldovan citizens, will establish a simplified procedure for obtaining multiple visas for relatively long terms and will allow free visa issuance for certain categories.