​MOLDOVA JOINS FREEDOM ONLINE COALITION (FOC)

Moldova joined the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) within the international conference “Free and Secure Internet for All” held in Tallinn.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iulian Groza and Ambassador of Moldova to Estonia Victor Guzun, as well as representatives of Moldovan civil society participated at the conference.

Groza reported about the results of Moldovan reforms on the way towards the European Integration, underlining the free visa regime importance for Moldovan citizens beginning with April 28.

He drew the attention of the forum participants on the fact that the most important objective for the Republic of Moldova at the given stage is the signing in 2014 the Association Agreement with the European Union, as well as the Free Trade Agreement.

According to the Deputy Minister, the Moldovan government has ambitious plans in the sphere of electronic government. He said that the Republic of Moldova participation in FOC will allow the country to more effectively use modern technology opportunities, will assure the authorities decision transparency and will guarantee a free and secure Internet for the entire Moldovan society.

The Republic of Moldova progress in its rapprochement with the EU was welcomed by the Estonia President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet.

“One of the important issues is the visa-free regime, which we have sought for a long period of time. The visa-free movement within the Schengen area countries is a vivid example of Moldova getting closer to the EU”, said Paet.

According to him, Moldova is a good example for other Eastern Partnership countries.

“Estonia believes important the Republic of Moldova signing the Association and Free Trade Agreement. I hope that it will happen in a few months”, added the Minister.

Paet emphasized that Estonia can share experience with Moldova, showing how the process of association to the EU develops the society from the political and economic point of view.

“We are ready to share our experience with Moldova in the spheres of the economic reforms realization, state officials training, as well as in the sphere of the e-government technology development”, said the Minister at the interministerial meeting, which held within the FOC.

A workshop for the Eastern Partnership countries on the open government activity, on-line freedoms promoting, which allow the society to gain access to the public sector information and to contribute to developing the policy, based on the free expression of people’s opinions and views. During the workshop, results of a comparative analysis of open government and information security in the Eastern Partnership countries were presented.

Also, Iulian Groza participated at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn, directed on discussing issues of ensuring the European continent security.