The first round of negotiations on the agreement on Moldova's participation in the EU crisis management operations completed in Brussels on 9 July, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry's information and media communication service has reported. The Moldovan delegation was led by Deputy Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman, and the EU delegation - by the head of the Department for Policies, Partnerships and Agreements within the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), Tim Clarke and by the deputy head of the ESDP Department for Policies, Partnerships and Agreements, Crisis Management and Planning Department of the European External Action Service, Teresa Mugica Inciarte. The above agreement will create the needed prerequisites for Moldova's active participation in the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Thus, the country will contribute to the international and region security, as provided for in the Moldovan government's activity programme for 2011-2014. On the sidelines of the event, Deputy Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman held bilateral meetings with Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, Maciej Popowski and current Director General of the European Union Military Staff, Lieutenant General Ton van Osch, and discussed Moldova's cooperation with the EU, in particular in the context of the European Security and Defence Policy.