European Commission to help Moldova develop its passport system
Dirk Schuebel, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Moldova, met with Moldovan Minister of Informational Technologies and Telecommunications Alexandru Oleinic and said the European Commission will render financial assistance to enhance the development of the biometrical passport system in Moldova.
The parties highlighted the importance of Moldova's cooperation with European institutions for working out a short-term and medium-term strategy of the development of the population documentation system on the basis of the European model.
Oleinic said Moldova is steadily developing the manufacturing and issuing of biometrical passports bearing in mind that this will become the European Union's chief condition for liberalization of the visa regime for Republic of Moldova citizens.
Angela Chicu of the Ministry said that 1,291 passports with biometrical data have already been issued in Moldova, and such documents are steadily gaining citizens' trust and demand.
The cost of making such passport is 1,250 lei if made during a month, 2,000 lei - during 10 days, and 2,870 lei if made urgently during 24 hours.
Moldova launched the biometrical passport pilot project on January 1, 2008, and the first such document was handed in to ex-President Vladimir Voronin. The project was worked out in conformity with the EU-Moldova European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan.
Infotag, Moldovan news agency
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