Moldovan premier sums up visit to Brussels, Luxembourg

Prime Minister Vlad Filat today held a news conference on the outcome of his working visit to Brussels and Luxembourg, paid on 26-28 June, the government's communication and press relations department has reported.

The prime minister said that on the sidelines of his visited, he participated in a meeting of the Moldovan-EU Cooperation Council and in a Conference of the Mobility Partnership between Moldova and the European Union, entitled "Cooperation with the EU in the migration field". At the same time, together with EU officials, the prime minister signed the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Moldova, the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the protection of geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs and the Agreement on the Amendment of the Moldovan-EU Accord on the facilitation of the visa regime. The high-ranking officials also agreed to elaborate and sign Moldovan-EU accords in the tourism and small and medium-sized enterprises fields.

At the same time, the European Commission announced about Moldova's shift to the second stage on the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime, a long-awaited event for Moldovan citizens.

Besides the above-mentioned events, the prime minister had a string of meetings and important discussions with top EU officials, among whom: European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Vice President of the European Commission, EU Commissioner for Mobility and Transport Siim Kallas, European Commission Deputy President, European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom, European Commissioner for Energy Gunter Oettinger, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos, chairman of the European Investment Bank, Werner Hoyer and Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal.

In the same context, Filat spoke about his participation in the Summit of European People's Party, along with politicians, heads of state and EU officials.

The prime minister outlined the key-points of his recent visit.

First of all, the prime minister mentioned the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Moldova.

"The signing of this agreement is a key-tool for Moldova's integration into the European air transport market, in terms of high safety standards and aeronautic safety, as well as in terms of services' liberalization. All these facts will bring about clear benefits for passengers travelling into and from Moldova. The signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement is important for Moldovan air companies, as well as for companies operating routes to the EU, since the restrictions on destinations, capacities and number of flights will be removed," the prime minister said.

Filat also said that the Common Aviation Area Agreement is very important for the business environment, students and academic environment. The enhancement of the air transport's accessibility boosts the relations between different countries and regions and improves the inter-human ties. At the same time, the prime minister said that the main beneficiaries of this agreement are the ordinary citizens who will have access to quality air transport services at reasonable prices.

Another key-issue on the agenda of the visit was Moldova's shift to the second stage of the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime.

"The announcement was made by EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom, at our bilateral visit. Together with Cecilia Malmstrom, we signed an Accord on the Amendment of the Moldovan-EU Agreement on the facilitation of the visa regime - a document that represents a step forward for Moldovan citizens travelling to Europe," the prime minister said.

According to the prime minister, the second stage of the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime involves the implementation of the legal framework approved in the first stage of the dialogue. He noted that an action plan has been elaborated to this end. In this context, the prime minister voiced hope that the state institutions would display solidarity and efficient cooperation, so that Moldovan residents could benefit from the right to travel without visas to the EU.

Filat said that the amendments to the Accord on the facilitation of the visa regime with the EU are meant to extend the visa-related facilities, in particular, to facilitate the visa application procedures, to enlarge the categories of citizens that will benefit from tax exemptions, to simplify the issuance of multi-entrance visas for some categories of citizens, among whom representatives of civil society, business passports, students, scientists, journalists, artists, as well as to abolish the visa regime for holders of service passports.

"In the context, I would like to add that the above-mentioned categories will benefit from visas that will be valid during a five-year term. This is an important step towards the liberalization of the visa regime for Moldovan citizens," the prime minister said.

As for the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the protection of geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs, Filat said that it points to the fact that Moldova and the EU are sharing similar viewpoints as regards the legal aspects of the goods' quality, the protection of consumers and the observance of copyrights. The above-mentioned agreement is meant to promote and protect the use of quality goods, which will bring about benefits to the Moldova and European farming sector, as well as to the consumers. The signing and implementation of this agreement represents a significant contribution to the enforcement of the provisions of the future Association Agreement and of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between Moldova and the European Union. In the context of Moldova's EU integration aspirations, the signing of the above agreement serves as a proof that Moldova has stuck to the highest EU standards in terms of goods' quality and that the country fulfils the assumed commitments.

"The fourth agreement - on the restoration of Moldova's power transmission system, was signed in Luxembourg on 26 June. According to the agreement, the European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend Moldova 17 million euros to improve the power transmission network," the prime minister said.

Filat added that the above agreement would make it possible to improve the power transmission system so as to get it closer to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity ENTSO-E. The project envisages the restoration of key points, such as substations, power transmission lines and power transformers with an expired service life.

The prime minister said that the agreement was co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which had a contribution of 20 million dollars. At the same time the EBRD has previously decided to lend Moldova 8 million euros, through the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF). Filat noted that the above-mentioned institutions ensured the needed financial contribution to Moldova's energy safety.

Filat also spoke about the fourteenth meeting of the Cooperation Council between Moldova and the European Union.

The prime minister said that the EU partners had praised the swift development of the Moldovan-EU relations and the country's headway recorded on its EU integration path. The prime minister also said that the EU partners spoke, in particular, about Moldova's success in the adoption of democratic principles, creation of democratic institutions, edification of a rule-of-law state and the creation of a functional market economy. At the same time, the EU officials praised Moldova's progresses in the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and encouraged the continuation of the dialogue on the matter.

"At the 14th meeting of the Moldova-European Union Cooperation Council, the EU officials announced that Moldova will benefit from additional support worth 28 million euros within the Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. The money is given for 2012, and represents a 30-per cent increase in the assistance provided by the European Union via this tool in 2012," the prime minister said, noting that projects financed from these funds will be launched in rural development, health care and justice reforms fields.

As for the international conference titled "Mobility Partnership: past, present and future," the prime minister said that the event was organized in Brussels by the European Commission and Moldova, our country serving as a model in the implementation of the Mobility Partnership with the EU.

"Moldova shared its experience in the management of migration processes and in the implementation of the development and social security policies, with several eastern and southern EU partners. The conference opened up new cooperation opportunities at regional and EU level and I am sure that we will be able to turn them to account," the prime minister said.

On the sidelines of the European People's Party Summit, the prime minister discussed with high-ranking European officials.

"I have invited German Chancellor Angela Merkel to pay a visit to Moldova and she accepted the invitation. The German official will visit Moldova this summer. This would be the first-ever visit of a German chancellor to Moldova," Filat said.