Export quota on wine offered by EU to Moldova might be doubled
Prime Minister Vlad Filat, in an interview for Radio Free Europe in Brussels this morning, said the European Union could double the export quota on wine granted to Moldova within the autonomous trade preferences system, Info-Prim Neo reports.
The Premier said the issue was discussed in a meeting with European officials on July 27. According to him, the possible doubling in the export quota on wine is to be negotiated and this process will last. Thus, it is not the case for the Moldovan Government to base its actions on statements about a possible halt in the export of Moldovan wines to Russia in two weeks made by Russia's food safety body Rospotrebnadzor.
Asked if the quality control measures will become stricter if the export quota is doubled, Vlad Filat said there will be imposed no tougher measures, but the EU standards must be observed. Therefore, Moldova asked the EU to help outfit the laboratories and acquire other equipment for assessing the quality and safety of the products.
Speaking about the advantages of the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement that is to be signed by Moldova and the EU, the Premier said that after the agreement is reached, the EU market will be open to the Moldovan producers and the dependence on a certain market will thus disappear.
As to national companies' abilities to deal with competition, Vlad Filat said Moldova's market is free and the companies will not be affected by major changes. This refers mainly to the economic entities that contribute to implementing the reforms that Moldova is to carry out on the path to European integration and reach the EU standards.