The European Parliament is expected at its plenary session in Strasbourg this week to lift visa requirements for citizens of Moldova.



The vote, originally scheduled for February 25, is now set for February 27 after the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs Committee earlier this month recommended the move.



The European Commission also has recommended the lifting of visa requirements for Moldovans.



An initiative to ease the visa restrictions was announced at an Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November, when Moldova initialed an Association Agreement with the European Union.



European lawmakers have said that Moldovan citizens could expect to have visa-free entry into the Schengen zone by May or June.



Last week, Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca said establishing a free-trade area with the European Union is one of his government’s top priorities.

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