EU confirms continued visa-free travel for Moldovan citizens
Moldovan citizens will still travel visa-free to Schengen countries. This follows the European Commission's determination that the authorities in Chisinau have fulfilled the recommendations related to the visa liberalization regime. This conclusion is part of the European Union's eighth report on the Visa Suspension Mechanism, which was adopted on December 19 in Brussels.
The report indicates that the Republic of Moldova has taken necessary measures to maintain its visa-free regime, despite challenges in the regional context and increased pressures on the migration and security systems in the European Union.
Assessment by the European Commission
The Commission's document provides a thorough assessment of several key areas, including:
- Alignment of visa policies with European Union (EU) standards
- Irregular migration and asylum applications
- Cooperation in border management and readmission
- Collaboration on security matters
The report highlights that visa liberalization is an important tool for cooperation between the EU and partner countries. It facilitates mobility, fosters people-to-people contacts, and promotes tourism, cultural, and academic exchanges.
As stated in the European Commission report, "Visa-free travel facilitates mobility and people-to-people contacts, stimulates tourism, and promotes cultural and academic exchanges; however, when misused, it can lead to migration and security risks."
While maintaining its positive assessment, the European Commission also provides specific recommendations for the Republic of Moldova, particularly regarding its approach to the Schengen area and its status as an EU candidate country. These recommendations include:
- Accelerating the alignment of visa policies with those of the European Union, especially concerning third countries that pose increased risks of illegal migration or security threats.
- Implementing more rigorous checks on third-country nationals exempt from visas when entering the Republic of Moldova.
- Reducing the number of unfounded asylum applications filed by Moldovan citizens in EU countries through information campaigns and by introducing exit controls.
The report emphasizes that unfounded asylum applications remain a challenge at the European level, comprising approximately 18% of all applications submitted by citizens of visa-free countries in recent years.
In a statement released on December 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Moldova welcomed the report's conclusions. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing cooperation with the European Union.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its willingness to continue, together with the competent national authorities, cooperation with the European Union to implement the recommendations outlined in the report," stated the MFA.
The authorities point out that the Commission's recommendations are directly related to the Republic of Moldova's status as a candidate country for EU accession and are monitored within the framework of the European Union's annual enlargement packages.
11 years of visa-free regime: Over 18 million trips
We remind you that the visa-free regime for the Republic of Moldova has been in effect since 2014. During this time, over 2.6 million Moldovan citizens have taken advantage of the opportunity to travel without a visa to the European Union, with more than 18.2 million trips recorded within the Schengen area. According to current regulations, Moldovan citizens can travel without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for purposes such as tourism, personal visits, and participation in cultural, academic, or business events.
