The decision to open the EU market for the Moldovan wines will be taken at the beginning of 2014. European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos, who is in Chisinau on a visit, said they will also consider the possibility of Moldova exporting powdered eggs to the EU, IPN reports.
According to the Commissioner, the European Commission’s decision to initiate the liberalization of the EU market for the Moldovan wines is an important economic signal for those who want to invest in the production of wine as they will have access to a market with 500 million consumers.
“We wanted to give a signal that we will no longer raise the export quotas. After the Association Agreement is signed, its ratification can last for a year or even more. We decided to hasten the procedure for the Moldovan wines. I note that we are not afraid of the invasion of Moldovan products on the European market. We speak about a market with 500 million consumers and products from a country with 3 million people. If they are of a good quality, I assure you that they will be to the EU people’s taste,” said Dacian Ciolos.
He added that in the next meeting of the Food Safety Authority, they will propose including Moldova in the list of countries that can export powdered eggs to the EU. “I understood that Moldova has the capacity to export powdered eggs. I was also informed that at legislative level, Moldova adopted everything in order to prepare the animal products for export to the EU. A group of European experts will teach their Moldovan colleagues to put these provisions into practice,” stated the Commissioner.
At the beginning of next year, Chisinau will host a conference of EU and EaP agriculture ministers. Dacian Ciolos said that it was decided to hold this conference in Moldova as agriculture is an important sector for the country.
The European official had meetings with Minister of Agriculture Vasile Bumacov, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and President Nicolae Timofti. Iurie Leanca noted that this is not the first visit of the official to Moldova and thanked him for the support provided to Moldova.
The visit of the European commissioner continues on October 12.
