This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

The International Trade Committee gave the go-ahead on Thursday to double the amount of Moldovan agricultural products exported to the EU duty-free.

MEPs on the International Trade Committee approved a proposal to double quotas on seven agricultural products whose export is not yet fully liberalised: plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries and grape juice. For one year, twice as many of these products can be sold in the EU without customs duties.

Liberalization will help Moldovan producers and companies to overcome the loss of Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian markets due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Due to the temporary liberalisation, this trade will be redirected to the EU.

The committee’s draft report, prepared by the permanent rapporteur for Moldova Markéta Gregorová (Greens/EFA, CZ) was adopted unanimously by the 30 MEPs.

Quotation

“The economic situation of the Republic of Moldova was already troubled before the war of aggression against Ukraine, which hit the already strained economy. The proposal of this temporary trade measure will allow Moldova to redirect part of its trade to the EU, allowing Moldova to sell this year’s harvest, thus supporting the stability of its economy,” said Markéta Gregorová.

Background

Relations between the EU and Moldova are governed by an Association Agreement which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. The latter guarantees the full liberalization of all exports to the EU, with the exception of the seven products temporarily liberalized by the proposal.

In a May resolution, the parliament called for the suspension of import duties on all Moldovan exports to the EU, the increase of quotas for Moldovan agricultural products and the facilitation of access to labor working for Moldovans in the EU.

Next steps

To allow Moldova to benefit from the measure as early as this year, the draft report should be fast-tracked for a vote by all MEPs during the July plenary session. The Council is also expected to decide on the matter in July. The measure will apply the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.