“Moldovan people hopeful to travel freely in Europe next year” says Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
BUCHAREST, Aug. 28 – Moldovan authorities expected the country’s citizens will be able to travel freely in Europe as early as next year, visiting first deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Natalia Gherman said Wednesday, at the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy in Bucharest.
“We expect a positive decision on visa liberalization for the Moldovan people in the first half of 2014,” said the Moldovan official, who is paying a working visit to Bucharest.
Gherman stressed that Moldova is about to complete the fulfillment of the EU preconditions for visa liberalization.
“Moldova expects a decision on the fulfillment of preconditions at the Vilnius Summit and the final decision on visa liberalization for the Moldovan people in the first half of 2014,” she said, stressing that “it is important that we translate the visa liberalization provisions into life during this term of office of the European Parliament and European Commission and Moldovan Parliament as well.”
According to the minister, the reforms in the justice and home affairs, migration management and investments are a priority for the Moldovan authorities.
Gherman said that the negotiations on Moldova-EU Association Agreement are over. She expressed hope that this agreement will be initialed at the Vilnius Summit and stressed that “this is just a milestone.”
The post-Vilnius period, when the Association Agreement is expected to be signed, will be a more important phase, she stressed.
The Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy takes place Tuesday through Thursday in Bucharest, the event being attended also by Linas Antanas Linkevicius, the foreign minister of Lithuania, the country which will host the Eastern Partnership Summit this autumn.
Source: shanghaidaily.com
