The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, started today a two-day visit to the Republic of Moldova. Commissioner Malmström will present the Action Plan on visa liberalisation to Prime Minister Vlad Filat. The Action Plan sets out all technical conditions to be met by Moldova before the possible establishment of a visa-free travel regime.
"This is a step further towards the long-term goal of a future visa free regime that would facilitate people-to-people contacts and strengthen business, social and cultural ties between the European Union and Moldova. Provided that the relevant conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are put in place, a future visa-free regime could add a very tangible element to Moldova's closer political association and economic integration with the EU", said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.
The presentation of the Action Plan represents a further step towards full visa liberalisation. The action plan focuses on key areas such as security of travel documents, border and migration management, public order and security, including the fight against organised crime and trafficking in human beings, as well as relevant external relations issues. The Action Plan contains a first set of benchmarks concerning the policy framework (legislation and planning) and a second set of more specific benchmarks, covering effective and sustainable implementation of relevant measures including concrete results on the ground.
At the occasion of her visit, Commissioner Malmström will also meet with the Acting President of the Republic of Moldova and Chairman of the Parliament, Mr Marian Lupu, and the Moldovan Minister of the Interior, Mr Alexei Roibu. Commissioner Malmström will discuss EU cooperation in the field of mobility, migration and security and call upon her counterparts to continue pursuing an ambitious reform and EU approximation agenda.
During her stay, Commissioner Malmström will give the opening speech at the international conference "The Eastern Partners' contribution to the Stockholm Programme: Synergies to improve mobility and strengthen security" that the Moldovan government will host on 24-25 January 2011 in Chisinau. Moreover, Commissioner Malmström will visit the Common Visa Application Centre hosted by the Hungarian Embassy, the Centre for Fighting Trafficking in Human Beings and the Centre for Temporary Accommodation of Foreigners.
