Moldovan premier, head of EU Delegation visit Leuseni-Albita border checkpoint

Chisinau, 28 April /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici and Head of EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola today visited the most demanded border checkpoint, Leuseni-Albita (Moldova-Romania state border), in the context of marking the first anniversary of the abolition of the visa regime with the European Union for the Moldovans holding biometric passports, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

The Border Police’s management presented Gaburici statistic data recorded during a year, institution’s equipment and showed the way the border check procedure is carried out.

Chiril Gaburici highly appreciated the achievements of the Border Police in terms of border management and the way the commitments taken after getting the visa free regime had been fulfilled. Gaburici thanked the staff for the huge work they carry out. „Today, we mark the first anniversary since we have visa free regime with EU and Moldovans, regardless of ethnic group, place of living or language they speak, may freely travel. I also ascertain that the institution’s modernisation is visible and I am glad that you have a successful cooperation with colleagues from Romania,” Gaburici said.

Data shows that, during one year, over 460,000 crossings of Moldovans to the Schengen space via the border checkpoints with Romania and Chisinau International Airport were recorded.

„Most Moldovans chose to cross the frontier via Leuseni-Albita border checkpoint. During 12 months, the border policemen recorded over 100,000 people. It is important for us that most citizens, about 90 per cent, observe the stay requirements in the European space and return home,” the head of Border Police, Dorin Purice, has said.

Chiril Gaburici and Pirkka Tapiola were familiarised with the way border checking is carried out. The officials discussed with participants in the cross-border traffic, as well as with border policemen on duty.

Subsequently, Gaburici inspected the “green” segment of the state border. Gaburici was presented the equipment of the Border Police used to supervise the frontier. Accompanied by a dog instructor with a dog on duty, Chiril Gaburici patrolled a border of border. Gaburici also tested the way the boats meant for patrolling on the Prut river work.

When patrolling, Pirkka Tapiola underlined that the European Union financially backed the implementation of reforms in this respect, by providing Moldova with 21 million euros. „ Moldova managed to win the abolition of the visa regime with EU only because it managed to implement concrete reforms to this end,” Tapiola said.

At the end of the visit, Chiril Gaburici and Pirkka Tapiola were handed over a badge of the Border Police each.

In 2014, the European Union ruled to abolish the visa regime for the Moldovans. The visa free regime for the Schengen space for the Moldovan citizens holding biometric passports entered into force on 28 April 2014. Thus, Moldova became the first Eastern Partnership state to manage to liberalise the visa regime with the European Union and continues to be the only one in this respect. 

(Editor A. Raileanu)