OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2012. The discussion took place in Chisinau within the first round of the negotiations of the Deep and Comprehensive Free trade Area Agreement. Heads of teams of negotiators, Deputy Minister of economy of Moldova Octavian Calic and EU Trade Unit Director Luc Devigne, noted that first round was of success. Obligations Moldova to assume as a result of the Free trade area creation will also apply to Transdniestria, which has the access to all the negotiations information and can take part in them too.

As Octavian Calimc notes, it is premature to speak about risks since tariffs will be discussed during the third round. “We are analyzing the statistics about the state of branches which will show which groups of goods need protection and which will be liberalized completely. However even now wed can say that agriculture will be most exposed to risks. But they are insignificant as compared with advantages the endorsement of the Agreement will give our country”, Octavian Calmic has said.

According to Luc Devigne, negotiators are aimed at signing the Agreement by the end of the autumn of 2013, but they are not going to scarify quality for speed. Within the negotiations 13 technical group were created to discuss matters of trade, competition, trade technical barriers, sanitary and phyto sanitary measures, customs administration, energy sector, public procurements. The EU technical assistance to implement necessary norms in Moldova makes up 41 mln. euros. Preparation to the negotiations started in 2011, when the law system of Moldova was introduced changes to according to the Plan of Action to realize guidelines of the EC.

The second round, within which legal documents will be discussed, takes place in June in Brussels and the third one will be held in autumn in Chisinau. The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement stipulates economic integration of Moldova and EU, progressive liberalization of trade, reduction of customs duties, technical and non-tariff barriers, elimination of quantitative restrictions, harmonization of Moldovan and European laws, free movement of labor work.