Poland abolished fees for national visas for Moldovans
As announced Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during the visit to Chisinau on 19 February, Poland has abolished fees for national visas (stays over 90 days), for for citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
Embassy in Chisinau in 2012, adopted more than seven thousand national visa applications by issuing more than five thousand of them. Decision shall enter into force on 1 May. In January 2011, Poland abolished the charge in respect of the citizens of Belarus unilaterally by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in August 2012, on a reciprocal basis to citizens of Ukraine when the relevant bilateral intergovernmental agreement came into force.
The aim of the Polish consular service towards its eastern neighbours is the liberalization of visa policy that favors the approach of the societies of Eastern Europe into the EU and the West. Visas issued by the Polish consulates to be easily accessible – in accordance with the applicable Visa Code of all members of the Schengen group. These facilities concern issuing national visas as well as Shengen visas. Total spent to the Eastern Partnership and Russia citizens in 2012 counts more than one million visas.
Moldova is at a turning point. For several years, shows the most progress of all countries of the Eastern Partnership towards reforming the country in the spirit of European standards.
In spite of many problems with the implementation of the reforms, the authorities are determined to achieve sustainable results in the approximation with the EU. Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius in November 2013, may be the most important step for Moldova in the process. In the near future we expect a similar decision by the Moldovan to abolish fees for national visas for Polish citizens. Moldova in 2008 have now abolished visas for citizens of the European Union, including Polish, but only for up to 90 days.
