Top in Vilnius: een nieuw begin voor Moldavië (en)

President Dalia Grybauskaitė i met with the Prime Minister of Moldova, Iurie Leancă. The meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming Vilnius Summit to be held in November, as well as Moldova's progress in implementing reforms. An EU association agreement is expected to be initialed with Moldova at the summit.

"A significant step on Moldova's path of European integration will be made at the Vilnius Summit. Moldova - as it resolutely moves forward in the European direction - is facing pressure from the outside. It is crucial to resist the pressure and continue rapid implementation of the necessary reforms," the President said.

Negotiations on the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova were launched in January 2010 and have been technically completed in June this year.

According to the President, progress is also sought towards visa liberalization for Moldova. There are high expectations that Moldova will soon complete the second phase of the action plan on visa liberalization, enabling the EU Council to start considering the abolishment of the visa regime for Moldova. Final reports on progress achieved are now expected from Moldova and the Commission.

The President and the Prime Minister also discussed the reduction of energy dependence of both countries on the Russian company Gazprom. The construction of the Iasi-Ungheni gas pipeline, started in Moldova in August, will connect Moldova with Romania and with the EU.