Moldova among leading countries benefitting from Eastern Partnership opportunities
The second ministerial meeting of the Eastern Partnership was held in Brussels today. The foreign ministers of the EU member countries and the Eastern Partnership states participated in the event. Moldova's delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca, the ministry's media and public relations department has said.
The meeting was co-chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, European Commission Vice-President, Baroness Catherine Ashton and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule.
Commissioner Stefan Fule assessed the activities implemented within the Eastern Partnership since the adoption of the Prague Declaration. He pointed out the quality progress made while achieving the initiative's objectives. Also, the high officials unveiled the medium-term key views and priorities to consolidate the Eastern Partnership, which will be agreed upon at a summit of heads of state and government of the Eastern Partnership due in Budapest in May 2011.
European officials described Moldova as being a leader among the Eastern Partnership countries which benefited from it sopportunities and highly appreciated the significant programmes made to reform the country.
EU foreign ministers backed the aspirations of the Eastern Partnership states to improve mobility and simplify the EU visa regime for students, researchers and business people, continuing the visa liberalization process concurrently with the implementation of conditions, and not in the least, extending opportunities to consolidate free trade. The ministers also referred to the need to identify practical mechanisms to step up the Eastern Partnership's multilateral dimension by approving a list of strategic projects of regional importance.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca met with high EU officials: Commissioners Stefan Fule and EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmidt, as well as the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Estonia and Romania.
Moldpres
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