When filing an application for joining the EU, a country must be implementing at least 80% of the adopted European standards, while for the rest 20% it must present an implementation schedule. Moldova so far adopted over 7,000 European standards in different areas of the existing about 15,000. The data were presented in the launch of a study made by the Independent Analytical Center “Expert- Grup”, IPN reports.
Study author Denis Cenusa said the adoption of the European standards is a key precondition for enjoying the benefits of the Association Agreement with the EU. The commitments in the area of standardization assumed within this accord include the progressive implementation of the European standards. As a result, Moldova will have to get rid of the conflicting standards. It is estimated that at least 6,000 national conflicting standards could be annulled by 2020.
The author also said that the implementation of the European standards creates a series of opportunities for Moldova such as facilitation of access to the common EU market and encouragement for diversifying the markets where Moldovan products can be sold. Also, the national consumers will enjoy safer products of a higher quality and Moldovan products that meet the requirements stimulated in the European legislation.
Denis Cenusa recommended that the authorities should create platforms for public-private partnerships for supporting the enterprises in the process of implementing the European standards and facilitate access to the European standards for companies interested in putting them into practice.
The adoption of standards is gradual and the EU provided technical and financial assistance for implementing them.
There are 27,700 national standards in Moldova. Of them, 18,000 are interstate standards (GOST), which in the past were the main category of standards used in the USSR. Moldova adopted 7,100 European standards. There are also 2,300 standards adopted by the International Organization for Standardization and 210 regional national standards.
