Finalization of Association Agreement with EU to be discussed over next weeks

The text of the Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union, including the component concerning the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, will be finalized during the next weeks. Several video-conferences of the Moldovan and European negotiators will be organized for the purpose, Info-Prim Neo reports. The last, 15th round of talks on the Association Agreement was held in Brussels on March 14 and 15. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, in this round there were discussed the results of the negotiations on the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade, which were held on March 11-15. Moldova was represented by a delegation headed by acting Deputy Foreign Minister Natalia Gherman. The EU’s team was led by the director of the European External Action Service Gunnar Wiegand. After the 14th round of talks that was held in Chisinau, Gunnar Wiegand said that both of the sides were fully ready for finishing the talks as planned. Initially, it was expected that the Association Agreement with the EU will be signed at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius this November. Both European officials and Moldovan ones said the signing of the agreement may be postponed as it is a voluminous document that must be translated into the languages of all the EU member states and approved by their legislatures.