PURPOSE: to extend the suspension of import duties and quotas on Moldovan exports to the EU.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2024/1501 of the European Parliament and of the Council 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.
CONTENT: the regulation provides for the extension of the suspension of import duties and quotas on Moldovan agricultural products for a further year, until 24 July 2025, in order to support the country in the context of the war of aggression waged by Russia. The regulation maintains the suspension of all customs duties and quotas due under Title V of the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova.
Temporary trade-liberalisation measures
The temporary trade-liberalisation measures established by this regulation should take the following form: (i) the suspension of the application of the entry price system to fruit and vegetables; and (ii) the suspension of all tariff-rate quotas and import duties. Through those measures, the Union will deepen economic integration between the Republic of Moldova and the Union and temporarily provide appropriate economic support to the benefit of the Republic of Moldova and the economic operators that are affected by Russias war of aggression against Ukraine.
Conditions for entitlement to the trade-liberalisation measures include the following:
- compliance by Moldova with the rules of origin of products and the procedures related thereto, as provided for in the Association Agreement;
- Moldova abstaining from introducing new duties or charges having equivalent effect and new quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect for imports originating in the Union, from increasing existing levels of duties or charges or from introducing any other restrictions, including discriminatory internal administrative measures, unless clearly justified in the context of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine; and
- Moldova respecting democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the countering of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, related materials and their means of delivery, respect for the principles of the rule of law and good governance, the fight against corruption, criminal activities, organised or otherwise, including those of transnational character, and terrorism, and respecting the principles of sustainable development and effective multilateralism.
Should Moldova fail to comply with any of these conditions, the Commission will be entitled to temporarily suspend all or part of the trade liberalisation measures introduced by this regulation.
Safeguard mechanism
The regulation strengthens the protection of sensitive agricultural products by consolidating the safeguard mechanism already provided for in the current regulation.
Subject to an assessment by the Commission carried out in the context of the regular monitoring of the impact of this regulation and launched either following a duly substantiated request from a Member State or on the Commissions own initiative, the regulation provides for the possibility to take any necessary measures regarding imports of any products falling under the scope of this regulation which are adversely affecting the Union market or the market of one or several Member States for like or directly competing products.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25.7.2024. The regulation will apply until 24.7.2025.