The Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union is a key document in Moldova’s relationship with the EU, which helps modernize the country, the institutions and the economy, says President Maia Sandu’s message on the 7th anniversary of the signing of the agreement that was celebrated on June 27, IPN reports.
President Sandu noted that during these years the EU became the main commercial partner of the Republic of Moldova, with about 67% of Moldova’s exports being now aimed at the European market. “Laws were amended, while the EU, through its programs, offered expertise and instruments for making our products more competitive, and supported the development and strengthening of the SMEs. Together with this, jobs were created in different sectors of the economy – from agriculture to the IT sector and renewable energy. The European Union and its member states have been near us generously and solidarily,” Maia Sandu posted on her Facebook page.
In a press release, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure reminded that the Association Agreement is a stable legal framework for advancing the relations between the Republic of Moldova and the EU in all the areas of interest. The agreement includes the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) whose objective is to stimulate the economic integration and political association between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union.
According to the Ministry, after seven years of implementation of the Agreement, the companies exporting to the EU increased in number and these now represent over 70% of all the companies that export to the EU market.
The EU in the period, through the EU4Business Initiative in Moldova, supported 19,531 SMEs that generated additional revenues totaling €345 million and created 21,930 new jobs, their turnover growing by 14.9%. As a result, exports rose by 3%. “An important accomplishment in the period was the development of the IT industry in the Republic of Moldova by the creation and ensuring of the functioning of the single national service for emergency calls 112 and the establishment of the first information technology park “Moldova IT Park”, which helped register 700 resident companies that generate 12,000 jobs, with an annual turnover of about 5 billion lei,” noted the Ministry.
It also said that together with the responsible institutions, it will continue to contribute to strengthening the strategic dialogue and the partnership with the EU, while the relevant measures planned by the Ministry of Economy are now aimed at the negotiation and signing of the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA), implementation of all the measures for obtaining the right to export products of animal origin (poultry and eggs), adoption and putting into practice of the provisions of the new Customs Code of the Republic of Moldova.
The Association Agreement was signed on June 27, 2014 and was ratified by Moldova’s Parliament on July 2, 2014. The European Parliament ratified the Agreement in its plenary sitting of November 13, 2014.
