The European Parliament adopted by 535 votes to 94, with 44 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the report by Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (ADLE, LT), in which it recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part.

In order to ensure the success of the Association Agreement, it should be implemented thoroughly and steadily by both partners. Members are aware that the Agreement requires costly reforms in Moldova. For this reason, the EU should assist Moldova in adopting the relevant laws and implementing arrangements and should monitor their actual enforcement.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: on 15 June 2009, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Moldova for the conclusion of a new Agreement between the Union and Moldova to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Those negotiations were successfully finalised and the Association Agreement between EURATOM and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part, was initialled on 29 November 2013.

In accordance with a Council Decision, the Agreement was signed subject to its conclusion at a later date.

It is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called upon to approve the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova.

Objectives of the Association Agreement: the draft Agreement establishes an association between the Parties, aiming at political association and economic integration of Moldova and leaving open the way for further progressive developments.

The overall aims of the association focus on:

• strengthening the framework for enhanced political dialogue;
• promoting, preserving and strengthening peace and stability in both the regional and international dimensions;
• promoting cooperation on peaceful conflict resolution;
• establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Moldova's gradual economic integration with the EU internal market in selected areas;
• enhancing justice, freedom and security cooperation with the aim of reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and
• establishing conditions for increasingly close cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

For further details of the objectives of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the initial Commission legislative proposal from 10/03/2014.

Geographical indications: the draft Agreement sets out the relevant procedures for the protection of geographical indications which are given protection pursuant to the Agreement. The Agreement should not be construed as conferring rights or imposing obligations which can be directly invoked before Union or Member State courts and tribunals.

It is stipulated that a name protected under the “Geographical Indications” of the Agreement may be used by any operator marketing agricultural products, foodstuffs, wines, aromatised wines or spirits conforming to the corresponding specification.

The Member States and the institutions of the Union shall enforce the protection provided for in the Agreement, including at the request of an interested party.

On a procedural note, modifications to the Agreement through decisions of the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee shall be approved by the Commission on behalf of the Union.

Where interested parties cannot reach agreement following objections relating to a geographical indication, the Commission shall adopt a position on the basis of the specific procedure.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova are currently based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into effect in July 1998.

On 15 June 2009 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Moldova for the conclusion of a new Agreement with the European Union to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Negotiations of this comprehensive and ambitious Agreement between the EU and Moldova were launched in January 2010. In February 2012, the EU and Moldova also launched negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part, as a core element of the Association Agreement.

The Association Agreement aims to accelerate the deepening of political and economic relations between Moldova and the EU, as well as advance Moldova's gradual economic integration with the EU Internal Market in selected areas, inter alia through a DCFTA, as an integral part of the Agreement.

On 29 November 2013, the EU and Moldova initialled the text of the Association Agreement.

The Agreement should be approved on behalf of the EU.

CONTENT: the proposal calls on the Council to approve on behalf of the Union the Association Agreement between the Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part.

Objectives of the Association Agreement: the Agreement establishes an association between the Parties, aiming at political association and economic integration and leaving open the way for further progressive developments.

The overall aims of the association focus on :

• promoting a gradual rapprochement between the parties on the basis of common values;
• strengthening the framework for enhanced political dialogue;
• promoting, preserving and strengthening peace and stability in both the regional and international dimensions;
• establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Moldova's gradual economic integration with the EU internal market in selected areas;
• enhancing justice, freedom and security cooperation with the aim of reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and
• establishing conditions for increasingly close cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

Sectoral cooperation : the Association Agreement also provides for a wide range of sectoral cooperation, focusing on support to core reforms, economic recovery and growth, governance and sector cooperation in 28 areas, such as :

• public administration reform,
• management of public finances,
• energy and transport,
• environmental protection and direct action,
• industrial and small and medium enterprise cooperation,
• social policies,
• consumer protection,
• agriculture and rural development,
• cross-border and regional level cooperation,
• education and training,
• civil society cooperation and youth as well as cultural cooperation.

In all of these areas, enhanced cooperation starts from the basis of current frameworks, both bilateral and multilateral, with the aim of more systematic dialogue and exchange of information and good practice.

Gradual approximation of legislation: key to the sectoral cooperation chapters is gradual approximation with the EU acquis set out in the annexes to the Agreement. Specific schedules for approximation and implementation by Moldova of selected parts of the EU acquis will form the core of Moldova's domestic reform and modernisation agenda.

DCFTA: closer economic integration through the DCFTA will be a powerful stimulant to the country's economic growth. As a core element of the Association Agreement, the DCFTA will create business opportunities in both the EU and Moldova and will promote real economic modernisation and gradual integration with the EU. Higher standards of products, better services to citizens, and above all Moldova's ability to compete effectively in international markets should be the result of this process.

Geographical indications: provision is made to protect EU geographical indications. A name protected under the Agreement may be used by any operator marketing agricultural products, foodstuffs, wines, aromatised wines or spirits conforming to the corresponding specification.

Institutional framework: the Agreement includes an updated institutional framework encompassing cooperation and dialogue fora. Specific decision-making roles are envisaged for Association Council, and by delegation for an Association Committee, which may also meet in a specific configuration to address trade issues. Space for civil society and parliamentary cooperation is also provided.

The Agreement also includes provisions on monitoring, approximation, fulfilment of obligations and dispute settlement (including separate provisions for trade-related matters).

PURPOSE: to conclude the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova are currently based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into effect in July 1998.

On 15 June 2009 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Moldova for the conclusion of a new Agreement with the European Union to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Negotiations of this comprehensive and ambitious Agreement between the EU and Moldova were launched in January 2010. In February 2012, the EU and Moldova also launched negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part, as a core element of the Association Agreement.

The Association Agreement aims to accelerate the deepening of political and economic relations between Moldova and the EU, as well as advance Moldova's gradual economic integration with the EU Internal Market in selected areas, inter alia through a DCFTA, as an integral part of the Agreement.

On 29 November 2013, the EU and Moldova initialled the text of the Association Agreement.

The Agreement should be approved on behalf of the EU.

CONTENT: the proposal calls on the Council to approve on behalf of the Union the Association Agreement between the Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Moldova, of the other part.

Objectives of the Association Agreement: the Agreement establishes an association between the Parties, aiming at political association and economic integration and leaving open the way for further progressive developments.

The overall aims of the association focus on :

·        promoting a gradual rapprochement between the parties on the basis of common values;

·        strengthening the framework for enhanced political dialogue;

·        promoting, preserving and strengthening peace and stability in both the regional and international dimensions;

·        establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Moldova's gradual economic integration with the EU internal market in selected areas;

·         enhancing justice, freedom and security cooperation with the aim of reinforcing the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and

·        establishing conditions for increasingly close cooperation in other areas of mutual interest.

Sectoral cooperation : the Association Agreement also provides for a wide range of sectoral cooperation, focusing on support to core reforms, economic recovery and growth, governance and sector cooperation in 28 areas, such as :

·        public administration reform,

·        management of public finances,

·        energy and transport,

·        environmental protection and direct action,

·        industrial and small and medium enterprise cooperation,

·        social policies,

·        consumer protection,

·        agriculture and rural development,

·        cross-border and regional level cooperation,

·        education and training,

·        civil society cooperation and youth as well as cultural cooperation.

In all of these areas, enhanced cooperation starts from the basis of current frameworks, both bilateral and multilateral, with the aim of more systematic dialogue and exchange of information and good practice.

Gradual approximation of legislation: key to the sectoral cooperation chapters is gradual approximation with the EU acquis set out in the annexes to the Agreement. Specific schedules for approximation and implementation by Moldova of selected parts of the EU acquis will form the core of Moldova's domestic reform and modernisation agenda.

DCFTA: closer economic integration through the DCFTA will be a powerful stimulant to the country's economic growth. As a core element of the Association Agreement, the DCFTA will create business opportunities in both the EU and Moldova and will promote real economic modernisation and gradual integration with the EU. Higher standards of products, better services to citizens, and above all Moldova's ability to compete effectively in international markets should be the result of this process.

Geographical indications: provision is made to protect EU geographical indications. A name protected under the Agreement may be used by any operator marketing agricultural products, foodstuffs, wines, aromatised wines or spirits conforming to the corresponding specification.

Institutional framework: the Agreement includes an updated institutional framework encompassing cooperation and dialogue fora. Specific decision-making roles are envisaged for Association Council, and by delegation for an Association Committee, which may also meet in a specific configuration to address trade issues. Space for civil society and parliamentary cooperation is also provided.

The Agreement also includes provisions on monitoring, approximation, fulfilment of obligations and dispute settlement (including separate provisions for trade-related matters).