Chisinau, 27 July /MOLDPRES/ - Prime Minister Vlad Filat met Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme in Brussels today, the government's communications and press relations department has said.

Attending the meeting was also Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca.

Vlad Filat congratulated his counterpart on the taking over by Belgium of the Presidency of the EU Council, stressing that this is a responsible and not at all easy task.

"For Moldova, the period of Belgian's EU Presidency is extremely important, taking into account the multitude of subjects of the Moldova-EU agenda, which have considerably advanced over the last time," the prime minister said.

Vlad Filat said that the present government took over Moldova ten months ago in a state of isolation at the external level and in a deep economic crisis. "By concrete actions, backed by our foreign partners, we have managed to overcome this situation, and advance on the road of democracy and European integration," the prime minister specified.

Vlad Filat said that the situation is complicated in Moldova, given that the country is to organize a referendum, as well as snap parliamentary and presidential elections. "We are firmly sure to ensure the normal holding of the earlier started processes in this period," the prime minister said.

Vlad Filat voiced hope that, next autumn, the negotiations on the free and deep trade agreement with EU will be launched, that Moldova will get a roadmap as regards the liberalization of the visa regime, and that the talks on the Association Agreement will continue in the same dynamic pace. Filat also said that the process of adjusting to the European norms and standards will continue too. The prime minister asked for EU's support to increase the Moldovan wines' share on the European Union's market.

The prime minister also referred to the Transnistrian issue. He specified that, over the last ten months, the government's efforts have been directed to enhance confidence-building measures and help the citizens who live on the left bank of the Dniestre. Vlad Filat asked for the further EU backing to settle the Transnistrian problem, specifying that the European Union has the necessary instruments to be efficient to this end.

As for the bilateral relations, Vlad Filat appreciated the fostering of the cooperation with the Flemish and Walloon regions of Belgium. The prime minister said that Moldova wants to widen the juridical framework of the relations with Belgium.

Yves Leterme said that he appreciates the course promoted by Moldova, stressing that the latter has a clear European prospect due to the present government for the first time ever.

The Belgian prime minister said that the talks on the Association Agreement, the launch of the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime, the efforts taken to get the agreement on free and deep trade are proofs of the progress made by Moldova on the European integration way.

The Belgian prime minister said that Moldova's future is in EU, and Belgium is willing to help us on this road. Yves Leterme said that he will back the government's request on the increase of the share of import of Moldovan wines to EU.

He said that Moldova's option for EU is important, and there should be a clear answer on behalf of the European Union as well. "I hope that the Belgian Presidency will be fruitful for Moldova's European integration too," Yves Leterme said.

The Belgian prime minister appreciated that Moldova's political leaders observed the Venice Commission's recommendations and ruled to overcome the constitutional crisis by organizing a referendum and snap elections.

The Belgian official highly appreciated the programme, Rethink Moldova, as well as Moldova's relations with the International Monetary Fund - an institution which said that Moldova's economy is being re-established and the reforms are to be continued.

Referring to the Moldovan-Belgian bilateral relations, Yves Leterme said that they are excellent, but there are also possibilities which have not been turned to account. In particular, the Belgian prime minister stressed that the Belgian investors who work in Moldova are contented by the business climate in the country.

After the meeting, the two prime ministers held a joint news conference, during which they declared satisfied with the meeting's outcomes.