The Cabinet of Ministers decided on the creation of a governmental commission for European integration on 11 November. The commission is headed by Prime Minister Vlad Filat and its deputy chairman is Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca.

Iurie Leanca noted that the new agreement will give an added value to instruments that would strengthen political relations and would promote adjustment to the EU standards. Leanca also said that the title of the agreement would reflect its ambitious content, with Moldova advocating an association agreement with the EU. The minister said that the first talks on the document will be held in Brussels in January already.

For the time being there is no approximate deadline and if we display seriousness and are strongly motivated, we will manage to negotiate three important chapters of the agreement in a reasonably short period, in particular the political bloc and security, justice and domestic affairs and the economic bloc, the minister said. Also, the draft agreement comprises a chapter of sectoral policies focused on agriculture, transport, energy security, etc.

Presently, Moldova and the EU cooperate on the basis of Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force on 1 July 1998 and was valid for 10 years. The agreement covers most cooperation sectors, yet such sectors as justice, freedom and security are only partially covered.

On 27 May 2008, the European Commission officially announced the launch of the process of reflections on a new deeper agreement with the EU. Subsequently, the EU Council adopted the conclusions on Moldova, which confirmed the EU s political decision to enter negotiations on a new agreement with Moldova.