Moldova's pro-European course 'can only lead to a better life'

Moldova's pro-European course 'can only lead to a better life'

Moldova's effort to maintain a pro-European course is a positive example for Ukraine and other countries in the region that aspire to EU membership, experts and officials say.

Moldovan citizens will soon be able to travel to the EU's border-free Schengen area without a visa. [AFP]

The EU Council's decision to approve lifting visas for Moldovan citizens is a result of the country's strong pro-European efforts that bring social and economic benefits to the former Soviet republic, and serve as a roadmap for other countries in the region seeking EU accession, analysts and officials said.

Moldova is the first country of the Eastern Partnership, the EU project to forge closer relations with six former Soviet republics -- Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine -- to meet all the criteria for visa-free travel. The EU Council agreed on Friday (March 14th) to lift the visa requirement.

Tanja Fajon, the European Parliament's rapporteur for the visa liberalisation dossier, called it a historic moment that will stimulate economic co-operation and connections between Moldovan and EU citizens.

Eugen Tomac, a lawmaker in Romania's parliament representing 400,000 Romanians living in Moldova, said lifting the visa requirement makes the EU the first option for Moldovans in any field of action: labour, studies, small border traffic, "after years of confinement to the only choice, namely Russia."

"The measure allows about 1 million Moldovans who work in the west to return to their country with an infusion of capital which can help the development of small and medium enterprises," Tomac told SETimes. "Also, the Moldovan passport will become...