OREANDA-NEWS. December 12, 2013. During session, the European Parliament has approved the European Commission's proposal on full liberalization of the EU market for Moldovan wines by voices of 503 deputies.

Only 14 members of the EU legislative body voted against this decision and 17 abstained from the voting. Proposal on full liberalization of the EU market for Moldovan wine products was made in September 2013, after Russia has imposed the ban on the import of Moldovan wines. As of late November 2013, the Committee on international trade of European Parliament approved this decision.

For decision on liberalization of the EU market for Moldovan wines to come into force, it must be approved by the EU Ministerial Council and published in the EU official journal. According to the Agriculture Ministry, in 2012, the quota on delivery of Moldavian wines to EU amounted to 18 million dal, in 2013 – to 24 million dal, respectively. Last year the Moldovan winemakers have used EU quota by 92%.

It should be noted that the EU market consumes about 15% of the total volume of the wine export from Moldova. The greatest share accounts for Russia- 29%, followed by Belarus - 20% and Ukraine - 14%.