{"id":187330,"date":"2013-11-15T15:07:54","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T15:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.moldova.org\/2013\/11\/15\/moldova-is-prepared-for-visa-free-travel-regime-with-eu-240119-eng\/"},"modified":"2013-11-15T15:07:54","modified_gmt":"2013-11-15T15:07:54","slug":"moldova-is-prepared-for-visa-free-travel-regime-with-eu-240119-eng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/moldova-is-prepared-for-visa-free-travel-regime-with-eu-240119-eng\/","title":{"rendered":"Moldova is prepared for visa-free travel regime with EU"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Moldova is the only country among the Eastern Partnership states who have met the conditionality of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP). In a report issued on Friday, the European Commission said that Moldova “meets all the benchmarks set in the four blocks of the second phase of the VLAP.”<\/p>\n

According to the report, the Ministry of Domestic Affairs reform has been completed. An improvement can be observed in the area of judicial cooperation in criminal matters with EU member states and international police. Border management cooperation with Ukraine is another accomplishment.<\/p>\n

European Commission wants to submit a legislative proposal to lift visa requirements for Moldovans holding a biometric passport. The initiative will be sent in shortly after the Eastern Partnership Summit due to take place at the end of November in Vilnius.<\/p>\n

“Taking into account overall relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, the Commission will therefore consider, immediately following the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit, presenting a legislative proposal to lift visa requirements for Moldovan citizens holding a biometric passport – amending EC Regulation 539\/2001 – in accordance with the agreed methodology under the VLAP,” the EU Commission said in a press release.<\/p>\n

The report assessed the implementation of several milestone pieces of legislation that have been adopted with difficulties by the Government in the past years. According to the EU Commission, the authorities “have made serious implementation efforts with regard to the Law on Ensuring Equality and the National Human Rights Action Plan, and the strengthening of the Ombudsman’s office.”<\/p>\n

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström said that a visa-free travel regime will be a tangible element for Moldovans and will further contribute towards closer association and integration with the EU.<\/p>\n

“I wish to congratulate the Moldovan authorities for their steadfast commitment and considerable efforts during the last three years,” Cecilia Malmström said. “The progress achieved will pave the way for a Commission proposal aiming at allowing visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Moldovan citizens holding a biometric passport. This is very good news for citizens and a very tangible element towards a closer political association and economic integration with the EU.”<\/p>\n

The spokesman of the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Michele Cercone told Moldova.ORG that there is no precise timeline for the visa-free travel procedure.<\/p>\n

“The European Commission intends to put the proposal forward as soon as possible; it will then depend on the Council and the European Home Affairs Council to take this up,” Michele Cercone said.<\/p>\n

According to him, the decision to life visa requirements for Moldova will have to be adopted by the EU Home Affairs Council by a qualified majority. The United Kingdom and Ireland are not entitled to vote on visa issues. <\/p>\n

Some political experts in Moldova believe that it is yet early to say whether each country will agree with lifting the visa requirements for Moldova.<\/p>\n

Denis Cenusa, political analyst at the Expert-Group Analysis Centre said that there are some skeptical EU member states, such as the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands who are “quite tough” when it comes to issues related to the Schengen zone, the countries being the main actors who rejected Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the border-free region.<\/p>\n

“Right now, it’s difficult to predict exactly the behavior of each country concerning the bid to lift the visa requirements for Moldovan citizens,” Denis Cenusa said in a statement for Moldova.ORG.<\/p>\n

Mr. Cenusa added that since Moldova is a small country the feasibility studies favored Moldova even before starting the visa liberalization program.<\/p>\n

“Certainly, the unemployment situation can be invoked by countries like Spain or Italy, the main countries of destination for Moldovans. But the majority of active citizens have already emigrated and the only results of the visa liberalization can have positive impact on people’s movement, including the possibility to strengthening the circular migration,” the expert said.<\/p>\n

He suggests that among the problems questioned by some member states – who could be against grating a visa-free travel regime to Moldovans -, the Transnistrian region might be a top issue, “taking into account the scary messages launched by some high level Russian officials, and also the conflictual behavior of the administration of the separatist region.”<\/p>\n

The Visa Liberalization Dialogue between Moldova and the EU was initiated in June 2010. It was then presented to Moldova in January 2011. On November 15, 2013 was issued the fifth assessment report which concluded that Moldova fulfils the requirements envisaged in VLAP.<\/p>\n

If approved by EU member states, Moldovan citizens will be able to travel with their biometric passport without needing an entrance visa for 26 EU and non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen zone. The maximum stay is 90 days for every 180 days.<\/p>\n

“We are making this European path a reality,” said José Manuel Durão Barroso, the President of the European Commission.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>Moldova is the only country among the Eastern Partnership states who have met the conditionality of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP). In a report issued on Friday, the European Commission said that Moldova \u201cmeets all the benchmarks set in the four blocks of the second phase of the VLAP.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":187329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"content_social_share":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Moldova is the only country among the Eastern Partnership states who have met the conditionality of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP). In a report issued on Friday, the European Commission said that Moldova “meets all the benchmarks set in the four blocks of the second phase of the VLAP.”<\/p>\n

According to the report, the Ministry of Domestic Affairs reform has been completed. An improvement can be observed in the area of judicial cooperation in criminal matters with EU member states and international police. Border management cooperation with Ukraine is another accomplishment.<\/p>\n

European Commission wants to submit a legislative proposal to lift visa requirements for Moldovans holding a biometric passport. The initiative will be sent in shortly after the Eastern Partnership Summit due to take place at the end of November in Vilnius.<\/p>\n

“Taking into account overall relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, the Commission will therefore consider, immediately following the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit, presenting a legislative proposal to lift visa requirements for Moldovan citizens holding a biometric passport – amending EC Regulation 539\/2001 – in accordance with the agreed methodology under the VLAP,” the EU Commission said in a press release.<\/p>\n

The report assessed the implementation of several milestone pieces of legislation that have been adopted with difficulties by the Government in the past years. According to the EU Commission, the authorities “have made serious implementation efforts with regard to the Law on Ensuring Equality and the National Human Rights Action Plan, and the strengthening of the Ombudsman’s office.”<\/p>\n

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström said that a visa-free travel regime will be a tangible element for Moldovans and will further contribute towards closer association and integration with the EU.<\/p>\n

“I wish to congratulate the Moldovan authorities for their steadfast commitment and considerable efforts during the last three years,” Cecilia Malmström said. “The progress achieved will pave the way for a Commission proposal aiming at allowing visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Moldovan citizens holding a biometric passport. This is very good news for citizens and a very tangible element towards a closer political association and economic integration with the EU.”<\/p>\n

The spokesman of the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Michele Cercone told Moldova.ORG that there is no precise timeline for the visa-free travel procedure.<\/p>\n

“The European Commission intends to put the proposal forward as soon as possible; it will then depend on the Council and the European Home Affairs Council to take this up,” Michele Cercone said.<\/p>\n

According to him, the decision to life visa requirements for Moldova will have to be adopted by the EU Home Affairs Council by a qualified majority. The United Kingdom and Ireland are not entitled to vote on visa issues. <\/p>\n

Some political experts in Moldova believe that it is yet early to say whether each country will agree with lifting the visa requirements for Moldova.<\/p>\n

Denis Cenusa, political analyst at the Expert-Group Analysis Centre said that there are some skeptical EU member states, such as the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands who are “quite tough” when it comes to issues related to the Schengen zone, the countries being the main actors who rejected Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the border-free region.<\/p>\n

“Right now, it’s difficult to predict exactly the behavior of each country concerning the bid to lift the visa requirements for Moldovan citizens,” Denis Cenusa said in a statement for Moldova.ORG.<\/p>\n

Mr. Cenusa added that since Moldova is a small country the feasibility studies favored Moldova even before starting the visa liberalization program.<\/p>\n

“Certainly, the unemployment situation can be invoked by countries like Spain or Italy, the main countries of destination for Moldovans. But the majority of active citizens have already emigrated and the only results of the visa liberalization can have positive impact on people’s movement, including the possibility to strengthening the circular migration,” the expert said.<\/p>\n

He suggests that among the problems questioned by some member states – who could be against grating a visa-free travel regime to Moldovans -, the Transnistrian region might be a top issue, “taking into account the scary messages launched by some high level Russian officials, and also the conflictual behavior of the administration of the separatist region.”<\/p>\n

The Visa Liberalization Dialogue between Moldova and the EU was initiated in June 2010. It was then presented to Moldova in January 2011. On November 15, 2013 was issued the fifth assessment report which concluded that Moldova fulfils the requirements envisaged in VLAP.<\/p>\n

If approved by EU member states, Moldovan citizens will be able to travel with their biometric passport without needing an entrance visa for 26 EU and non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen zone. The maximum stay is 90 days for every 180 days.<\/p>\n

“We are making this European path a reality,” said José Manuel Durão Barroso, the President of the European Commission.  <\/p>\n

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