In the second half of this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration aims to negotiate a new Association Agenda between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union based on which a new action plan for implementing the Association Agreement will be worked out. The intentions were communicated by Minister Oleg Țulea in a press briefing centering on the sixth anniversary of the ratification of the Moldova – EU Association Agreement, IPN reports.
According to the minister, the European integration objective remains a priority in the Ministry’s interaction with the European institutions and the EU Member States. This is done not to the determent of the relations with the non-EU states, such as Russia and the U.S. Also, Moldova is interested in using the opportunities offered by the Eastern Partnership and in making progress in developing interaction in the security sector, signing the roaming agreement between the EaP countries, facilitating road transport, etc.
Speaking about the results achieved during six years, the minister mentioned the harmonization of the legal acts. Approximately 360 EU acts were fully transposed to the national legislation, while another 230 were transported partially. Currently, 65-66% of Moldova’s exports are oriented to the EU and more than 2 million people managed to travel in the EU visa-free.
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pace of implementing the Agreement in the first half of this year was slower. Even so, a number of overdue measures were implemented. The most significant actions were taken in such sectors as transport, environmental protection, sanitary and phytosanitary measures. There was adopted a calendar for carrying out the overdue measures by this yearend.
The National Antidrug Strategy for 2020-2027 and the action plan for implementing it were agreed. There were passed the law to amend the law on joint stock companies for transposing European regulations, the law on procurement in the energy, water and postal services sectors. The working plan on the agreement on the mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators between the EU and Moldova was finalized and agreed. This agreement is important for facilitating commercial exchanges by simplifying border crossing for Authorized Economic Operators.
Oleg Țulea noted that discussions are held with European institutions for assessing the Audiovisual Council and the Competition Council. The draft law on noncommercial organizations was adopted by Parliament and is now going through the post-adoption procedures. Actions related to the public consultations on the justice sector reform strategy and the reform of the Superior Council of Magistracy were taken.
The Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EU was signed in Brussels on June 27, 2014. It was ratified by Moldova’s Parliament on July 2, 2014, while by the European Parliament on November 13, 2014.
