Brussels, 15/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU decided on Monday 15 February to open a regular dialogue with the Republic of Moldova on human rights. The dialogue should be held at least once per year with, in principle, meetings being held alternately in Moldova and the EU, member states say in conclusions approved without discussion (Point A) by the Education Council. The dialogue will have a civil society component and will include exchanges, on an ad hoc basis, with relevant international and regional organisations, such as the United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe, the text states. The aim of the dialogue is to be able to raise human rights issues, including individual cases, in the Republic of Moldova and in the European Union in a more in-depth manner with the view toward achieving “concrete results”, ministers state. In its conclusions, the Council repeats its commitment to further deepening the relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, on condition that Moldova continues to make progress on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Last month negotiations on an EU-Moldova association agreement were opened. This agreement, to replace the current partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) which dates from 1998, will also provide for a free trade agreement once conditions are right. At the EU-Moldova Cooperation Council on 21 December 2009, the EU announced that, in early 2010, a dialogue on visa liberalisation would be begun (see EUROPE 10046). Facilitation and readmission agreements are already in force. Moldova is also one of the six countries that make up the Eastern Partnership that was launched in May 2009. (H.B./transl.rt)