Brussels, 22/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The new pro-European government in Moldavia, headed by Prime Minister Vlad Filat (resulting from the snap general elections on 29 July 2009), has given a “new departure” to EU-Moldavian relations and has opened the way to new perspectives, including the possibility of contractual relations. This was the message given by the Swedish Presidency of the EU at the end of the EU/Moldavian Cooperation Council, which took place in Brussels on 21 December. Frank Belfrage, the Swedish secretary of state for foreign affairs, informed the press: “We are optimistic; the new government has vision and is focused on pro-European reforms”. The best proof of this thawing out in relations between Brussels and Chisinau will be the launch on 12 January 2010 of negotiations for an EU-Moldavia association agreement. This agreement replaces the current partnership and co-operation agreement (PCA), which dates back to 1998. A free trade agreement is also planned, once the right conditions have been met. Further progress was announced during the Cooperation Council on 21 December, with the opening “at the beginning of 2010” of a dialogue on the liberalisation of visas (facilitation and readmission agreements are already in force). An EU experts' mission will travel to Moldavia at the beginning of next year to prepare the ground for this dialogue on visas, announced Mr Belfrage. Vlad Filat, the Moldavian prime minister, who headed the Moldavian delegation at the Cooperation Council, reiterated to the press his commitment to reform, modernisation of the market economy and development of the rule of law. The Moldavian government has also accepted an EU proposal to organise regular human rights dialogue. In a joint declaration published at the end of the Cooperation Council, the two sides “acknowledge Moldavia's European aspirations” and underline that their common objective is to “bring Moldavia closer to the EU”. Both the EU and Moldavia said that the Eastern Partnership, of which Moldavia is one of the six beneficiary member countries, also provides a productive bilateral and multilateral platform for deepening cooperation. The Cooperation Council welcomed the extension of the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM), which remains a very important part of efforts to accomplish definitive demarcation of the border between the two countries. The question of the conflict in Transnistria was also raised. The Cooperation Council reiterated its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldavia and emphasised that “5+2” negotiations were the only possible framework for resolving this problem. (H.B./transl.fl)