The Association Agreement between Moldova and the EU will be finalized this spring, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman said after the 14th round of talks that closed in Chisinau on January 22, Info-Prim Neo reports. Natalia Gherman told a news conference that the talks centered on the general and final provisions of the draft agreement, the chapter on justice and internal affairs, and the preamble. “We worked intensely and advanced considerably in negotiating the future agreement. We also exchanged opinions on the coming into force of the agreement. We started to discuss the association agenda. This round of talks set off the final stage and the entire exercise is to be finished in spring,” she said. EU negotiator Gunnar Wiegand, director within the European External Action Service, said that it was a productive round of talks and both of the sides are ready to close the talks on time. “The negotiations started in January 2010 and not many believed that they will be brought to an end. There are few provisions left for negotiation. My colleagues are yet to negotiate the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. I hope that next year we will be able to implement a part of this agreement that benefits the economic entities of both sides,” stated the European official. The next round of talks on the Association Agreement will take place in Brussels on March 14. There wasn’t set an exact number of rounds of talks. They are arranged depending on the necessities. The Moldova - EU Association Agreement is expected to be signed by the Eastern Partnership Summit of this November.