Today in Chisinau, the European Union and Moldova launched officially negotiations on a new Association Agreement.These negotiations reflect the positive evolution of political and economic relations between the EU and Moldova, and the opportunity to widen and deepen cooperation under the Eastern Partnership.
The future agreement will deepen the political association and economic integration of Moldova and the EU. Its principal objective will be to draw Moldova closer to the EU through commitments across a range of areas, based on a strong degree of approximation to EU laws and standards. These areas will include enhancing political cooperation, reinforcing joint measures in migration, asylum, border management, drugs and crime, expanding economic relations, and increasing co-operation in critical sectors such as energy, environment, transport and public health, with a direct impact on citizens' daily lives and on the business environment.
These negotiations take place against the background of increasing bilateral trade over the past years (trade with the EU accounts for over half of total Moldovan trade) and a significant increase of EU assistance to Moldova.
The negotiating teams will be led by Gunnar Wiegand, Director of the European Commission, External Relations Directorate General for the EU, and Natalia Gherman, Deputy Foreign Minister, for Moldova. Talks will be structured to cover the general objectives and principles of EU-Moldova Relations in plenary sessions, and working groups have been set up on Political Dialogue and Co-operation on Foreign and Security Policy, Justice, Freedom and Security issues, Economic Co-operation, and People-to-People contacts (including areas such as education and research).
The EU reaffirmed its objective to negotiate and establish a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), when the relevant conditions are met, and underlined the importance for Moldova to carry out the necessary reforms.
