A European Commission's documentation mission paid a visit to Chisinau on 1-2 March, during which it held exploratory discussions on issues of liberalisation of the visa regime with the European Union. The mission was organised to carry out the provisions of a joint declaration adopted at the Moldova-EU Cooperation Council on 21 December 2009.

The mission, made up of experts of the European Commission s External Relations Directorate General and the Justice, Freedom and Security Directorate General, took knowledge in the following fields of the dialogue with EU on visas: documents' security; illegal migration including readmission, public order and security, external relations. The delegation members had meetings with the Foreign Ministry leadership and representatives of all the institutions with powers in visas' field.

At the end of the visit, the mission members had a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Filat, during which preliminary conclusions were formulated. In particular, the mission said that it deems as possible to launch the dialogue on the liberalisation of the visa regime by next mid-June, on condition that the EU member states gives their consent in this respect. The sides also agreed on the structure of the future dialogue, in which the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration will have a role of coordinator. In general, the sides specified the stages of the future activity to get the regime of free visa travels by Moldovan citizens to the European Union.