The European Parliament adopted by 596 votes to 2, with 7 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the carriage of goods by road.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

Road freight transport between the European Union and Moldova is currently governed by two main mechanisms, namely the bilateral transport agreements between EU Member States and Moldova and the permits granted in the framework the ECMT multilateral quota system within the International Transport Forum. Both these mechanisms impose quotas on hauliers from both sides, regarding transit and bilateral trade.

Since the increased use of the number of transport operations by road compared to normal times would exceed the quotas set out in the bilateral agreements between Member States and Moldova and given via the ECMT within the International Transport Forum, this Agreement on road transport between the European Union and Moldova would therefore replace existing bilateral transport agreements between Member States and Moldova and facilitate the use of alternative transport by road for operators, as bilateral operations and transit would be liberalised between the two Parties.

PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Moldova on the carriage of freight by road.

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: due to the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine, the transport of goods from Moldova has become very difficult. Due to the severe disruption of the transport sector in Moldova, Moldovan operators have to find alternative road transit routes through the EU and new markets for their exports.

Given that permits granted in the framework of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) multilateral quota system within the International Transport Forum and existing bilateral agreements with the Republic of Moldova do not allow for the necessary flexibility for Moldovan road haulage operators to increase and plan ahead their operations through and with the European Union, it is crucial to liberalise the transport of freight by road for bilateral operations as well as for transit.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal is to approve the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Agreement between the European Union and Moldova on the carriage of freight by road.

The agreement aims at temporarily facilitating the road transport of goods between and through the territories of the European Union and Moldova by granting additional transit and haulage rights between the Parties to carriers established in one of the Parties, taking into account the repercussions of the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine and the significant disruption it is causing to the transport sector in the Republic of Moldova.

This EU-Moldova road transport agreement would therefore replace the existing bilateral transport agreements between the Member States and Ukraine and would facilitate the use of alternative road routes for transport operators, as bilateral operations and transit would be liberalised between the two parties.

The agreement is the most effective instrument to strengthen road transport relations between the EU and Moldova, as it removes the need for quotas and permits in the bilateral agreements between the Member States and Moldova.