On February 19, 2010, H.E. Mr. Iurie Leancă, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affaires and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, paid a visit to Budapest at the invitation of Foreign Minister of the Republic of Hungary, H.E. Mr. Péter Balázs.

The two foreign ministers discussed the cooperation relations, Hungary's priorities while it will hold the presidency of the EU in the first half of 2011 and the possibilities offered by the Eastern Partnership to Moldova. The head of the Hungarian diplomacy assured his partner that Hungary supports the European Union’s signing an association agreement with Moldova. Mr. Leancă thanked Hungary for its continuous support for Moldova’s economic and social modernization and endeavours towards European integration.

Mr. Balázs and Mr. Leancă noted with satisfaction the successful operation of the Common Application Centre, housed in the Hungarian Embassy in Chisinau, which issues visas for the Schengen Zone on behalf of twelve countries.

The ministers signed a protocol between the Government of Moldova and the Government of Hungary to implement the agreement on the readmission of illegal migrants between Moldova and the EU.

In the framework of the his visit to Budapest, Mr. Iurie Leancă had also meetings with Vice President of the National Assembly, Mr. László Mandur and Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for foreign affairs and Hungarian minorities abroad, Mr. Zsolt Németh
.