The economic sectors from both banks of the Nistru River must be depoliticized and the creation of a common economic area with both of the banks joining the Free Trade Area with the EU will contribute to this. The participants in the international conference “Creation of a Common Economic Area between the banks of the Nistru: opportunities and challenges” consider the population from all over the country will enjoy only benefits if the Free Trade Area with the EU is implemented, IPN reports.

The international conference was organized by the Foreign Policy Association (APE). In the opening of the event, APE executive director Victor Chirila said more players should be involved in the process of settling the Transnistrian conflict. New channels must be opened for holding discussions on this conflict, while the economic sphere can stimulate the resolution of the dispute.

Head of the Reintegration Bureau George Balan said that about 1,000 Transnistrian economic entities registered with the Moldovan authorities and benefit from preferential trading conditions with the EU. Also, about 45% of Transnistria’s exports go to the EU, while another 35% to the right bank of the Nistru. Therefore, a common economic area is in the interests of the region’s population, but Tiraspol is unwilling to hold discussions on the creation of the Free Trade Area.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Jennifer Brush voiced hope that the economic aspect will be a catalyst for finding solutions to the Transnistrian conflict. A mechanism for ensuring cooperation between the EU and the Eurasian Customs Union, for which the Transnistrian administration pleads, should be identified, for the benefit of the Transnistrians. The trade barriers and the obstacles to the free movement of people should be removed so as to allow the labor force to move freely from one bank to another. Effort must be made to combat smuggling.

The Transnistrian side refused to take part in the discussions on the creation of the Free Trade Area. Therefore, the EU postponed the liquidation of the current autonomous trade preferences for a year. Thus, these preferences will be used parallel with the provisions of the Free Trade Area by the end of 2015. If Tiraspol refuses to implement the provisions when time limit expires, the Transnistrian economic entities will pay taxes on the exports to the EU as other states.