Welcome back to Europe, Moldova: EU visas lifted for Moldovan citizens

The European Parliament has formally adopted a decision to allow Moldovan citizens with biometric passports to travel visa-free in the Schengen zone as of April 28. The decision was signed in Brussels on April 3.

“As of April 28, all citizens of the Republic of Moldova can travel without a visa in the European Union, therefore in Romania, too. I wish to congratulate the authorities in Chisinau for this remarkable success obtained at the end of four years of efforts and intense reforms, not always carried out under favorable external circumstances, but promoted with perseverance and courage,” said the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean, according to a statement of the ministry.

“Welcome to Romania! Welcome back to Europe!,” concludes the message.

Prime-minister Victor Ponta sent a message congratulating the Chisinau Government and the citizens of Moldova for achieving a visa-free status in Europe.

“It is a highly expected news for every citizen over the Prut, for everybody who believes in the European ideal, in Moldova’s return to the community of values that it naturally belongs to  – the European Union. I will remind you that the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barrosso,  made the announcement when we visited Brussels with PM Leanca last year. I am happy that our efforts paid off. The decision to lift the visas was achieved after an encompassing process of legal and administrative reforms which implied the whole of Chisinau’s government and it required commitment from the entire political class and society over the Prut. Liftin the visas is a well-met reward for this common effort and proof of the support the EU offers to Republic of Moldova’s integration”, Ponta said.

Read more about

European Capital of Innovation Awards 2024 now open for applications

read more

PM Victor Ponta and the Moldovan prime-minister will meet on Tuesday in Sculeni to mark the lifting of European visas for the citizen of R. Moldova. The two officials will talk with inhabitants on both sides of the border, and observe as citizens of Moldova will be able to cross the Prut without a visa and only their biometric passports.

Ambassador Iurie Renita: The citizens of Moldova become official Europeans by removing the visas

Eliminating EU visas is an event of profound historical significance for R. Moldova and its citizens will become official Europeans through it, according to ambassador Iurie Renita.

“The event happening today, April 28, is undeniably a special moment in the history of R. Moldova since declaring its independence from the former soviet empire in 1991. I believe I am not exaggerating when I say this event carries a profound historical significance. Abolishing the visa regime represents conclusive proof that R. Moldova is advancing on the way to European integration, even though the process itself is incredibly complex”, the ambassador commented.

The diplomat also believes that every citizen of Moldova will benefit from the decision, “regardless of their ethnic background or on which side of Nistru they live”, referencing the situation in Transnistria where pro-Russians militant groups are vying to separate themselves from the country and join the Russian Federation.