Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca's tour to northern Europe started in Helsinki. The agenda included meetings with representatives of the public authorities, business environment and journalists.

At a meeting with Minister for European Affairs and Migration Astrid Thors, the Moldovan top diplomat discussed Moldova's cooperation with the European Union. Iurie Leanca pointed out the importance of the ongoing negotiations on an association agreement between Chisinau and Brussels. The head of the Moldovan diplomacy described the launch of the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime and of debates on the Agreement on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade as two basic priorities of Moldova's government in the promotion of dialogue with the EU.

Minister Thors assured that Finland would continue to be a supporter of Moldova's European aspirations. She said that a concrete step to this end can be achieved by Finland's inclusion in the Mobility Partnership.

Prospects for the development of both the Moldova-EU dialogue and bilateral dialogue were discussed at a meeting with Minister for Development and Trade Paavo Vayrynen. On this occasion, the Finnish official informed about a decision to launch a series of development projects for Moldova within the Extended Europe Initiative in 2010. He also confirmed Finland's participation in the Donor Coordination Conference due in Brussels on 24 March.

The officials exchanged opinions on the domestic evolution in Moldova and Finland. The discussions will continue within a visit to Chisinau by Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb next April.

The development of bilateral trade ties was a special subject of a meeting with Jarmo Karesto, Director General of the Finnish Companies' Association, FINPRO, representatives of which will pay a fact-collecting visit to Chisinau in May 2010. They will be later followed by a mission of Finnish business people.

The tour continues with meetings in Oslo, Norway, on 10 March.