The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU offers Moldova a big opportunity to realize its potential in the area of trade. Moldova must do more reforms so as to fully benefit from the provisions of the DCFTA, but it is worth the effort, EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom said in a conference centering on trade and the DCFTA, which involved representatives of the business community and other interested sides, IPN reports.

Cecilia Malmstrom said that owing to the free exchange of goods and services and of people too, both of the signatory sides of the DCFTA gain a lot. This accord provides a number of opportunities, such as the exchange of innovations and ideas. But anyone will say that this free trade is possible in particular conditions and that the safety of goods must be ensured, that developed infrastructure is needed, etc.

The European commissioner noted that very good results were achieved in the implementation of the DCFTA and even if Moldova’s exports in general decreased, those to the EU increased. The EU remains a very important partner for Moldova, but a lot is yet to be done. There are many Moldovan products that would be very popular on the EU market, such as the meat and milk products, but the country needs to meet the quality and safety standards so as to enter this market.

Cecilia Malmstrom said the EU is concerned about the situation in Moldova, underlining it is very important for the legal system to gain the people’s confidence by being equitable and by ensuring the law is applied equally and this will contribute to attracting investments and to extending the commercial relations with foreign partners.

The European official added that the EU became very much engaged in the negotiation of the Association Agreement and this was a long-term investment and the expectations of Moldova are similar. But the accord can anytime be terminated by one of the sides if this is wanted, if Moldova changes the external development course.

Cecilia Malmstrom is paying a two-day visit to Moldova on the occasion of one year of the coming into force of the Association Agreement with the EU. She met with senior state officials and with representatives of the Cabinet.