European Parliamentary Committee OKs Lifting Visa Regime

European Parliament deputy Marian-Jean Marinescu

The Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has voted in favor of lifting the visa regime for Moldova's citizens.

The move was approved on February 13 by 45 votes to 2.

The parliament is expected to approve the measure at a plenary session on February 25.

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Romania, Marian-Jean Marinescu, told RFE/RL's Moldovan Service that "there is wide consensus" among MEPs that Moldova's efforts toward EU-inspired reforms should be rewarded by having the visa regime abolished.

Marinescu said that citizens of Moldova could travel freely to the European Union's visa-free Schengen zone as early as late May or early June.

The easing of visa restrictions for Moldovans was announced at an Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November, when Moldova initialed an Association Agreement with the bloc.