Brussels, 20/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Talks with a view to concluding an association agreement between the EU and Moldova are to be launched in the near future, according to Carl Bildt, who is Sweden's foreign minister and current president-in-office of the EU Council, speaking during the EU Troika's visit to Chisinau on 16 October. The upcoming agreement, for which the European Commission obtained a negotiating brief from the 27 member states, will replace the current partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) dating back to 1998. Moldova is one of the six beneficiary countries of the “Eastern Partnership” launched in May 2008. The new initiative gives the six countries concerned the prospect of political association and sound economic integration, including the creation of a free trade area if conditions are met (for more details see: http: //ec.europa.eu/external_relations/eastern/index_en.htm). The fact that the EU has given its go-ahead to the negotiation of a new agreement proves that Moldova has made progress in implementing reforms and that it has undertaken to continue on this road to reform, Mr Bildt commented after the troika's meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca. (H.B./transl.jl)