Regulation (EU) 2023/1524 on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under 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

What it is

to increase trade flows for all imports from Moldova by suspending all customs and import duties applied to Moldovan products. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: 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 constitutes the basis of the relationship between the Union and Moldova. The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Markéta GREGOROVÁ (Greens/EFA, CZ) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade liberalisation measures additional to the trade concessions applicable to Moldovan products under 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. The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure by taking over the Commission's proposal. In the context of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2022/1279 in 2022, which introduced temporary trade liberalisation measures to supplement the trade concessions applicable to products from Moldova under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. The purpose of this legislative proposal is to renew and extend these trade liberalisation measures for a period of one year from the date of expiry of the current measures (25 July 2023). Under the proposed regulation, all outstanding tariffs under Title V of the Association Agreement will be suspended. This concerns fruits and vegetables subject to the entry-price system and to tariff-rate quotas, namely tomatoes, garlic, table grapes, apples, cherries, plums and grape juice. The proposal also includes an expedited safeguard mechanism that can be activated in order to protect the Union market in case of adverse effects. These temporary and exceptional measures will facilitate and support the existing trade flows from Moldova to the Union and help Moldova’s economy. The European Parliament adopted by 577 votes to 36, with 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade liberalisation measures additional to the trade concessions applicable to Moldovan products under 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. The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading taking over the Commission's proposal. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been ongoing since 24 February 2022, has a profoundly negative impact on the ability of the Republic of Moldova to trade with the rest of the world, in particular…

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