Volume of wine exported to EU will double, Vlad Filat

The visit to Brussels produced results. In particular, the European officials backed Moldova's initiative to open talks on increasing the import quota on wines granted by the EU, Prime Minister Vlad Filat said in a conference held at the airport on his return, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Premier said the quota might be 250,000 hectoliters of wine or about 35 million bottles of wine. The quota for 2012 granted by the EU within the autonomous trade preferences system is 120,000 hectoliters. The Premier stated that in Brussels they agreed the steps that must be taken by Moldova to obtain a liberalized visa regime. Two assessment missions will come to Chisinau in September. Afterward. Moldova could obtain a road map for the liberalization of the visa regime. The talks on the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement between Moldova and the EU are to start this year. Anticipating journalists' questions, Vlad Filat said the talks on the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area may last for two years, while those on the liberalization of the visa regime for 18 months since obtaining a road map or presenting a plan of action. Moldova will possibly submit such a plan of action to the EU after the two assessment missions complete their work.