First Common Visa Application Centre opened in Moldova

26 April 2007

The first "Common Visa Application Centre" in the history of the EU visa policy has been officially inaugurated on 25 April in the presence of Commissioner Frattini in Chisinau, Moldova. The Common Centre will facilitate the issuance of visas for Moldovan citizens. Frattini also initialled today, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, the agreements for readmission and visa facilitation between the European Community and the Republic of Moldova. Following the Commission's proposal the Hungarian Government took the initiative to host the Centre in its Embassy on Chisinau, to which Austria, Slovenia and Latvia adhered. Estonia and Denmark will join the Centre later. Other Member States not having diplomatic representations in Moldova have shown interest for this initiative.

For more information the website http://www.ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/frattini/index_en.htm