Moldova’s Parliament has ratified the Association Agreement with the European Union by 59 votes in favor. At least 51 votes were needed for the accord to be ratified, IPN reports.

The voting was nominal. The MPs representing the parties PLDM, PDM, PLR, and PL and unaffiliated lawmakers Mihai Godea and Iurie Bolboceanu voted for the ratification of the agreement.

The Communist faction left the assembly hall before the voting procedure. Only Communist MP Grigore Petrenco remained to monitor the process and voted against. The members of the group of Socialists Igor Dodon, Zinaida Grechianyi and Ion Ceban also voted against.

The Association Agreement was signed for an indefinite period and takes effect on the first day of the next month after the day the last ratification or adoption instrument is submitted. The EU and Moldova agreed to start to implement parts of the accord before it is ratified by all the EU member states.