Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 introducing autonomous trade preferences for the Republic of Moldova

The European Union (hereinafter "the EU") has finalised the negotiations with the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter "Moldova") on the Association Agreement, including the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) in June 2013. Moldova has adopted an ambitious agenda for political association and further economic integration with the EU. It has also made strong progress on regulatory approximation leading to convergence with EU laws and standards.

In the framework of these negotiations, the Parties have proposed to fully liberalise the bilateral trade in wine.

Recently Moldova is experiencing difficulties with its wine exports to some of its traditional markets, which threaten its economic recovery and the reform process that is vigorously pursued by the Moldovan government. The agricultural sector represents around 40% of Moldova's economy and the wine sector is an important part of it, providing employment to some 300,000 people (one fourth of the working population), who are mainly living in rural areas and cultivating medium to smaller family plots.

Taking into consideration the above, the European Commission proposes to fully liberalise import of wine from Moldova into the EU without delay by amending Council Regulation (EC) 55/2008 and removing wine from Table 1 of Annex I thereof.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)678: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:678:FIN

ESO: Background information: European Union to open fully its market to Moldovan wines http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-union-to-open-fully-its-market-to-moldovan-wines/

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