Moldova to open talks on new agreement with EU
Moldova will open the talks over a new agreement with the European Union in January next year. A relevant decree was issued by the Acting President of Moldova and Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu.
“The negotiation and signing of the new agreement with the EU will enable the Moldovan authorities to step up cooperation in different areas and to strengthen the administrative and institutional capacities,” it is said in a communiqué issued by the Parliament.
In May 2008, the EU said it was ready to start negotiations on a new agreement with Moldova that will replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which covers most of the areas of cooperation, including the political dialogue, trade in goods and services, investments, etc. The ten-year agreement came into force on July 1, 1998, but was then extended for an unlimited period.
Currently, Moldova benefits from Additional Autonomous Trade Preferences. For an extensive economic integration, the new agreement should envision the creation of a free trade zone that would include access to the market of goods, services and investments, and commitments as regards the gradual implementation of the communitarian acquis.