The removal of tariff barriers for 91% of the Moldovan products with the implementation of the Association Agreement between Moldova and the EU will help save over €11.2 million a year for farmers, expert Tatiana Savva says in the info-graphic “How can the Association Agreement help deal with challenges in Moldova’s agriculture” produced by the think tank “Expert-Grup”, IPN reports.
The expert said that until now the Moldovan producers didn’t export products to the EU market owing to the customs duties, the European regulations that are not compatible with the national ones and the outdated production processes. The implementation of the Association Agreement will contribute to adjusting the legislation in the field, modernizing the agricultural sector by increasing access to finances, educating and promoting the associations of agricultural producers and to facilitating foreign investment in agriculture and rural areas. The support provided for developing villages will make the rural areas more attractive for living there.
According to Tatiana Savva, all these measures will be implemented by focusing on the sustainable development of natural resources and by improving the quality of life in rural areas. The accord with the EU also protects the rights of the national producers. The export duties on a series of sensitive products from the EU will be kept for 3-10 years.
The expert also said that the European market has over 500 million consumers whose purchasing power is five times higher than in the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union. The measures for implementing the Association Agreement in agriculture will be financed through the common agriculture support framework (€110-123 million until 2017), operational programs and funding allocated for activities aimed at promoting the interests of producers.
