The Republic of Moldova and the EU kicked off talks on the liberalisation of visas, during the bilateral Co-operation Council meeting, which was chaired by the Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union, Diego López Garrido.

Upon the conclusion of the Council meeting, Diego López Garrido highlighted the latest developments undertaken by Moldova in constitutional matters, among other achievements attained since the first Council held last December.

In the same line, The European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Füle, described the second meeting of the Co-operation Council as "highly fruitful" and highlighted the progress achieved in the negotiation of the bilateral association agreement, together with Moldova's adhesion to the European Energy Charter Treaty.

Visa liberalisation will enable Moldovan nationals to travel through the Europe without borders of the Schengen area, by merely presenting their passport. Moldova is one of the few neighbouring countries where visas are still required. Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia attained visa liberalisation last December.

The European Neighbourhood Policy aims at increasing common stability, prosperity and security. On the basis of a joint Action Plan, the EU supports partner countries in implementing their reforms to improve their standards of democracy and human rights, to increase their access to the EU's single market, to improve the environment and to step up their co-operation with the EU on issues like climate change, energy, transport or migration.