Moldova may open talks on free trade agreement with EU by August

The European Commission on March 18 is to be mandated by the EU member states to open talks on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with Moldova. “In the case of Moldova, the procedure may last for less than 3-4 months,” the Head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel told a news conference, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The Ambassador is confident that the talks will start sooner than August. “When the talks are finished and the agreement is signed, Moldova will shift to a new level of relations in free trade and investments,” Dirk Schuebel said, stressing that this agreement will provide a very good legal base that Moldova can use to promote economic reforms. At to the fifth round of talks on the Association Agreement, which took place in Brussels last week, the diplomat said there was made real progress and Moldova is close to completing these negotiations. Dirk Schuebel also said that the agreement on civil aviation could be signed in the first half of this year. The agreement provides a wider space for competition and, as a result, better prices for the passengers. Speaking about the relations between the EU and Moldova, Dirk Schuebel said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will pay a fact-finding visit to Moldova early in March. He stressed this visit shows that great attention is devoted to Moldova, which is making efforts to build a state of law and democratize the country. In 2011-2013, the EU will provide €550 million to Moldova in budgetary support. Moldova benefits from the largest sport per capita after Palestine. “This year, we are to cover the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. Besides, €50 million will be provided for the legal system if a relevant national strategy is worked out,” Dirk Schuebel said. The EU intends to outfit the Border Guard Service of Moldova with telecommunications and radio equipment worth about €25 million and to provide €2 million for issuing biometric passports. Dirk Schuebel said the Moldovan wine export quota may be increased in the first half of the year.