Diaspora Agency to be created

On an ordinance by Prime Minister Vlad Filat, the State Chancellery is to create an Agency for the Diaspora which will be responsible for dealing with the problems of the Moldovan citizens living and working abroad, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Agency will be subordinated to the Government and its functions will include developing migration policies and maintaining ties between Moldova and its citizens abroad. The State Chancellery has been tasked with developing the Agency's regulations. In addition, the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family shall present proposals on speeding up the signing of bilateral social security agreements with the main destination countries for the Moldovan migrants, including Italy, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany. The Ministry of Education shall simplify the procedure of recognizing graduation diplomas issued in other countries at all levels of Moldova's education system, and initiate talks on bilateral agreements for the recognition of Moldovan diplomas abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration shall examine the opportunity of signing and ratifying the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and launch unilateral initiatives to ease visa requirements for the countries which are deemed important for Moldova's interests.