Moldova: 17.02.2011 Dialogue on Visa Free Travel with Moldova Launched by European Commission
The European Commission launched on 17 February a dialogue with Moldova in order to examine the conditions necessary for establishing visa-free travel of Moldovan citizens to the EU in future.
photo by the European Commission
The visa dialogue was opened at the EU-Republic of Moldova Cooperation Council in Luxembourg and its main objective is examining technical preconditions for the establishment of a visa-free regime for Moldova. The dialogue will focus on such areas as security of travel documents, border and migration management, public order and security and external relations issues.
According to Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, a visa-free regime would strengthen economic, societal and cultural ties between the European Union and Moldova. Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and ENP expressed his satisfaction from the fact that the beginning of the dialogue is a fulfilment of the promise made to Moldova in December 2010.
From 1 January 2008, when a visa facilitation and readmission agreement between the EU and Moldova entered into force, visa fees for Moldovan citizens are lower (35 EUR instead of 60 EUR) and some groups are exempt from such a fee altogether. More than half of Schengen visas issued in Moldova in 2009 were free of charge. On 1 January 2007 the Republic of Moldova lifted the visa obligation on EU citizens.
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