EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos announced on Wednesday that he will urge all the EU member states to raise Moldovan wine imports quota before the enforcement of the Free Trade Agreement, IPN reports.
According to a communiqué from the Government, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca had a telephone conversation with Commissioner Dacian Ciolos, who confirmed this information. He said the Moldovan wine that is expected to be delivered on the European market will not have any limitations in terms of tariffs and quantity.
“The European Union's market is a sustainable alternative and a viable pole of stability for the Moldovan wine sector. A fully opened EU market for Moldovan wines in a time when Moldovan farmers are in difficulty, reflects that, beyond being a very successful economic integration project, the EU is also a space of solidarity,” said the EU Commissioner.
In 2008, the European Commission granted Moldova Autonomous Trade Preferences that allow the Moldovan companies to export over 10,000 products to the EU without paying customs duties. In 2011, the export quota on wine products was 150,000 hectoliters. In 2012, it rose to 180,000 hectoliters, while in 2013-2014 it will be 240,000 hectoliters.
The negotiations between Moldova and the EU on the Association Agreement, which envisions the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, were closed in June. The Association Agreement is to be initialed at the Eastern Partnership in Vilnius this November. The DCFTA will take effect immediately after the signing of the agreement.
