Moldova is making good progress overall in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) it has with the EU - but needs to advance in several sectors, a key meeting held in Brussels heard on 31 March.
Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip met with EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and the European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, on the occasion of the 3rd Association Council held to discuss progress of the country’s Association Agreement with the EU.
While noting the overall good progress made under the DCFTA, both parties agreed on the need to advance in several sectors, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures, as well as improving market conditions in the field of energy, public procurement and access to finance for SMEs.
Intellectual property rights, especially regarding geographical indications, were also identified as an area to be addressed with a view to ensuring their protection in line with DCFTA commitments. The EU recalled its readiness to assist and provide expertise to the Moldovan authorities in this respect.
The Association Council recalled the importance of making the best use of EU financial and technical assistance, with a view to supporting the objectives of the Association Agreement, including the DCFTA, and improving the living conditions of the citizens of Moldova “in a visible and tangible manner”. The EU noted at the meeting that EU assistance to Moldova is based on “strict conditionality”, linked to satisfactory progress in reforms.
