EU backs Romania in opening Visa Application Centre in Chisinau

The European Union (EU) will further support Romania’s project regarding a visa application centre in Chisinau, Franco Frattini, vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner for justice, freedom and security, stated during a meeting in Bucharest with Romanian Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a press release from Romania’s Government. During the discussions, the prime-minister specified that the visa application Centre that Romania intends to create in Chisinau is expected to be a consular instrument, complementary to the similar project managed by Hungary, and it is designed to contribute to the settlement of visa applications for Moldovan citizens. As regards the problem related to visas for Moldova, Tariceanu underlined the fact that Romania constantly shows its willingness to back Moldova’s efforts in moving closer to EU values and standards, but at the same time, Romania is aware of its obligations, as a member state at the EU border, as concerns the respect of European norms in the field, applied to the nationals outside the EU. In an interview given to the Romanian newspaper “Gandul”, the European Commissioner Franco Frattini appreciates the Bucharest authorities’ decision to request the opening a second centre for processing visa applications in Chisinau. “I will also negotiate with Moldova an agreement on visa issuance facilitation and, finally, I hope that Chisinau will authorise in turn the creation of the two Romanian consulates”, he stated. With reference to the last official statements of Chisinau against Romania, the EU official referred to a discussion he had with Romanian President Traian Basescu, who said he was not going to comment on the allegations brought by Chisinau. Frattini said he appreciated very much the Romanian President’s decision to avoid a tough reaction. Romania announced its willingness to oversee the visa application centre one month ago. Later, Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan said he did not understand the intention to create a similar office under the auspices of another EU member state. “For Chisinau, this thing has no sense, moreover it is inopportune”, Stratan said. “Intentions of this kind should be consulted with Chisinau authorities, before discussing such subjects in Brussels or in other European capitals,” the cited source said. Recently, a statement from Chisinau Government qualified as “false attitudes” Romania’s intention to assume its role of creating the Centre in Chisinau, launched in the moment when the procedures for opening the Centre practically draw to an end. The Common Visa Application Centre, which will operate within the Hungarian Embassy, will be opened on April 25.