Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen met Moldovan Minister of Internal Affairs Dorin Recean

Finnish Minister of the Interior Ms Päivi Räsänen today met Minister of Internal Affairs of Moldova Mr Dorin Recean and Vice Ministers of Internal Affairs Mr Serghei Diaconu and Mr Veaceslav Ceban in Chisinau. The Ministers discussed matters related to Moldova's border control and the visa liberalisation dialogue from the perspective of justice and home affairs.

- Finland is very pleased with the development of home affairs that has taken place in connection with the visa dialogue between Moldova and the EU, said Ms Räsänen. Substantial reforms have been implemented at the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs, in particular, such as reorganisation and demilitarisation of the Police. Ms Räsänen also commended cooperation between Finland and Moldova, especially in the field of border control. - I invited Mr Recean to Finland to continue our discussion on how to deepen cooperation between our Ministries, said Ms Räsänen.

According to Ms Räsänen, the Moldovan Border Police has developed its operations towards EU standards, and these efforts have yielded good results.

- The discussions I had with my minister colleagues clearly showed that Moldova takes a very positive approach towards the European Union. - We appreciate the measures implemented by the Moldovan Government, aimed at furthering the country's modernisation and bringing it closer to the EU, said Ms Räsänen.

In November, Ms Räsänen met Moldova's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Natalia Gherman during her visit to Finland and made a proposal that the Finnish Border Guard could donate the Moldovan Border Police a device needed in document inspection. This device helps detect forged documents.

- I'm glad that you accepted our proposal, Ms Räsänen said in her discussion with Mr Recean and the Vice Ministers.

- I hope that my visit will further promote the good cooperation between the Finnish and Moldovan Governments.

Ms Räsänen will continue her trip from Moldova to Brussels to participate in the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on 5 December.

For further information, please contact: Ms Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. + 358 40 720 2216