WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG189/1 
18 February 2005 
 
 (05-0687) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:   English 
  
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MOLDOVA AND CROATIA 
  
  The following communication, dated 14 January 2 005, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Moldova. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA AND THE 
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
* 
 
PREAMBLE  
  The Republic of Moldova  and the Republic of Croatia  hereinafter referred to as Parties,  
 
 Reaffirming  their desire to actively participate in the process of economic integration in 
Europe;   Taking  into account  the importance of historic, traditiona l and spiritual relationships between 
the Parties and spiritual values they share; 
 
 Admitting  that Parties are willing to consolidate these relations and to establish strong and 
durable relationships of coopera tion and economic integration; 
  Reaffirming  their commitment to pluralist democracy based on observance of the rules, rights 
and basic human liberties of the state governed by the rule of law; 
 
 Firmly convinced  that this Agreement will promote intensification of commercial mutually 
advantageous exchange leading to creation of a wi de zone of free trade, and contributing to the 
process of European integration,  
 Resolved  for this purpose to progressively eliminate th e barriers in mutual trade in general, in 
conformity with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter referred to as “GATT 
1994”),and the Agreement establishing the World Trad e Organisation (hereinafter referred to as 
“WTO”)  
 Have agreed  as follows: 
  
                                                     
 
* The associated Annexes have been submitted to  the Secretariat for consultation by interested 
Members (office 1174). WT/REG189/1 
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 Article 1 
 
Objectives
 
 1. The Parties shall gradually establish a free trade area in a transitional period ending on 
January 1, 2006 in accordance with the provisions of  this Agreement and in conformity with the 
definition set out in Article XXIV of the GA TT 1994 and the Agreement establishing WTO, on 
substantially all their trade. 
2. The objectives of this Agreement are: 
(a) to promote, through the expansion of mutu al trade, the harmonious development of 
economic relations between the Parties,  improvement of living standards and 
conditions of work, raising productivity  and enhancing financial stability; 
(b) to provide fair competition in trade between the Parties; 
(c) to gradually eliminate difficulties and restri ctions on trade in goods, including also 
the agricultural products; 
(d) to create conditions for further encouragemen t of investments, particularly for the 
development of joint investments in both countries; 
(e) to contribute in this way, by the removal of barriers to trade, to the harmonious 
development and expansion of world trade. 
Article 2 
 
Basic Duties
 
 1. For commercial exchanges covered by this Agre ement, the Customs Tariffs of the Parties 
shall be applied to the classificati on of goods for imports into them. 
2. For each product the basic duty to which the su ccessive reductions set out in this Agreement 
are to be applied shall be the Most Favoured Nati on (MFN) duty in force on the date of entry into 
force of this Agreement. 
3. If after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, any tariff reduction is applied on an 
erga omnes  basis, in particular, reductions resulting from the tariff agreement concluded in the WTO, 
such reduced duties shall replace the ba sic duties referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article as from that 
date when such reductions are applied. 
4. The reduced duties calculated in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article shall be rounded 
off to the second decimal place.  
5. The Parties shall mutually exchange their basic duties. 
  WT/REG189/1 
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 CHAPTER I: INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS 
 
Article 3 
 
Scope  
 
1. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to industrial products originating in the Parties. 
2. The term “industrial products” means for the purpose of this Agreement the products falling 
within Chapters 25 to 97 of the Harmonized Co mmodity Description and Coding System with the 
exception of the products listed in Annex 1 to this Agreement. 
Article 4 
 
Customs Duties On Imports And Charges Having Equivalent Effect  
 1. From the date of entry into force of this  Agreement no new customs duties on imports or 
charges having equivalent effect shall be introduced , nor shall those already applied be increased in 
trade between the Parties. 
2. Customs duties on imports and charges having equivalent effect shall be progressively 
reduced in accordance with  the following timetable: 
- From the date of entry into force of the Agreement to 50% of the basic duty; 
- From January 1, 2005 to 30% of the basic duty; 
- From January 1, 2006 the remaining duties shall be abolished. 
 
Article 5 
 
Fiscal Duties
 
 
 The provisions of Article 4 shall also apply to customs duties of a fiscal nature.  
Article 6 
 
Customs Duties On Exports And Charges Having Equivalent Effect
 
 
1. No new custom duties on exports or charges havi ng equivalent effect shall be introduced in 
trade between the Parties as from the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 
2. The Parties shall abolish all existing customs duties on exports or charges having equivalent 
effect on the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 
Article 7 
 
Quantitative Restrictions On Imports And Measures Having Equivalent Effect  
  No quantitative restrictions on imports or measures having equivalent effect shall be 
maintained or introduced between th e Parties as from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.  
 WT/REG189/1 
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 Article 8 
 
Quantitative Restrictions On Exports And Measures Having Equivalent Effect
 
  No quantitative restrictions on exports or measures having equivalent effect shall be 
maintained or introduced between th e Parties as from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.  
  
CHAPTER II: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS 
 
Article 9 
 
Scope
 
 1. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to ag ricultural products originating in the Parties. 
2. The term "agricultural products " means for the purpose of this Agreement the products falling 
within Chapters 1 to 24 of the Harmonized Co mmodity Description and Coding System and the 
products listed in Annex I to this Agreement. 
Article 10 
 
Exchange Of Concessions
 
 
1. The Parties shall grant each other the concessions specified in Protocol 1 to this Agreement 
(hereinafter Protocol 1) as laid down in that Prot ocol and in accordance with the provisions of this 
Chapter. 
2. Taking account of: 
 - the role of agriculture in their economies, 
   - the development of trade in agri cultural products between the Parties, 
   - the particular sensitivity of the agricultural products,  
 - the rules of their agricultural policies, 
  - the results of the multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO,  the Parties shall examine within the framework of the Joint Committee referred in Article 33 of this 
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Joint Co mmittee”) the possibilities of granting each other 
further concessions in trade in agricultural products.  
Article 11 
 
Concessions And Agricultural Policies
 
 
1. Without prejudice to the concessions granted under Article 10 to this Agreement the 
provisions of this Chapter shall not restrict in any way the pursuance of th e respective agricultural 
policies of the Parties or the taking of any measu res under such policies, including the implementation 
of the provisions of the respective provisions under the WTO.  WT/REG189/1 
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 2. The Parties shall notify to the Joint Committe e changes in their respective agricultural 
policies pursued or measures applied, which may aff ect the conditions of trade in agricultural products 
between them as provided for in th is Agreement. On the request of any Party prompt consultations 
shall be held to examine the situation. 
Article 12 
 
Specific Safeguards  
  Notwithstanding other provisions of this Agreem ent, and in particular Article 26 to this 
Agreement, and given the particular sensitivity of  the agricultural products, if imports of products 
originating in a Party, which are subject to th e concessions granted under this Agreement, cause 
serious disturbances to the markets of the other Pa rty, the Party concerned shall immediately enter 
into consultations to find an appropriate soluti on. Pending such solution, the Party concerned may 
take the measures it deems necessary. The type an d duration of the measure should not go beyond 
what is strictly necessary to remedy the situation. 
 
Article 13 
 
Veterinary, Sanitary And Phytosanitary Measures
 
 1. The Parties shall apply their regulations in vete rinary, sanitary and phytosanitary matters in a 
non-discriminatory fashion and shall not introduce any measures that have the effect of unduly 
obstructing trade. 
2. The veterinary and sanitary measures and the work of the veterinary services will be in 
accordance with international c onventions in this field. 
3. The phytosanitary measures and the work of the plant protection service will be in accordance 
with international conventions in this field. 
 
CHAPTER III: GENERAL PROVISION 
 
Article 14 
 
Elimination Of Technical Barriers To Trade
 
 1. The rights and obligations of the Parties relati ng to standards or technical regulations and 
related measures shall be governed in accordance w ith the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to 
Trade. 
2. The Parties shall co-operate and exchange in formation in the field of standardization, 
metrology, conformity assessment and accreditation with the aim of eliminating technical barriers to trade. 
3. Each Party, upon a request of the other Part y, shall provide information on particular 
individual cases of standards, technical norms or related measures. 
4. The Parties shall aim to reduce technical barriers to trade. To this end the Parties will enter, 
where appropriate, into negotiations for the conclusion  of the agreements for the mutual recognition in 
the field of conformity assessment in the spirit of recommendations of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barrier to Trade, for the products subject to mutual trade between the Parties. WT/REG189/1 
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 Article 15 
 
Internal Taxation
 
 1. The Parties shall refrain from any measure or practice of an internal fiscal nature establishing, 
whether directly or indirectly, discrimination be tween the products originating in the Parties. 
2. Products exported to the territory of one of the Party may not benefit from repayment of 
internal taxes in excess of the amount of direct or indirect taxation imposed on them. 
Article 16 
 
Rules Of Origin And Co-Operation In Customs Administration
 
 1. The Parties agree to apply the harmonized European  preferential rules of origin in the mutual 
trade including all existing and further amendments th ereto. In case the European rules of origin are 
amended, the Joint Committee shall make  a decision on amending rules of origin. 
2. Protocol 2 to this Agreement (hereinafter refe rred to as “Protocol 2”) lays down the rules of 
origin and related methods of administrative co-operation. 
3. The Parties shall take appropriate measures, in cluding regular reviews by the Joint Committee 
and arrangements for administrative co-operation, to  ensure that the provisions of Protocol 2 and 
Articles 2, 4 to 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 26, 27 and 28 of this Agreement are effectively and harmoniously 
applied, and to reduce, as far as po ssible, the formalities imposed on trade, and to achieve mutually 
satisfactory solutions to any difficulties arising from the operation of those provisions. 
4. The Parties shall conclude separate Agreem ent for co-operation between their Customs 
Administration, as soon as possible.  
Article 17 
 
General Exceptions
 
 1. The provisions of this Agreement shall not preven t from applying prohibitions or restrictions 
on import, export, or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public 
security; the protection health and human life, animals or plants as well as environment protection; protection of national treasures possessing artistic, histor ical or archaeological value; the protection of 
intellectual property; regulations relating to gold or silver, or the conservation of exhaustible natural 
resources, if such measures are effectively appl ied in relation with do mestic consumption or 
production restrictions. 
2. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a mean of arbitrary 
discrimination or disguised restriction on trade between the Parties. 
Article 18 
 
Security Exceptions
 
  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Party from taking any appropriate measures which 
it considers necessary: 
 
(a) to prevent the disclosure of information c ontrary to its essential security interests;  WT/REG189/1 
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 (b) for the protection of its essential security interests or for the implementation of 
international obligations  or national policies: 
(i) relating to the traffic in arms, ammun ition and implements of war, provided 
that such measures do not impair the c onditions of competition in respect of 
products not intended for specifically military purposes, and to such traffic in 
other goods, materials and services as is carried on directly or indirectly for 
the purpose of supplying a military establishment; or 
(ii) relating to the non-proliferation of biological and chemical weapons, nuclear 
weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; or 
(iii) in time of war or other serious interna tional tension constituting the threat of 
war. 
 
Article 19 
 
State Monopoly  
 
1. The Parties shall adjust progressively any state monopoly of a commercial character so as to 
ensure that by the end of the transitional period  laid down in Article 1 of this Agreement, no 
discrimination regarding the cond itions under which goods are procured  and marketed, exists between 
natural and legal persons of the Parties. The Pa rties shall inform each other about the measures 
adopted to implement this objective. 
2. The provisions of this Article shall apply to any body through which the competent 
authorities of the Parties, in law or in fact, either  directly or indirectly supervise, determine or 
appreciably influence imports or exports between th e Parties. These provisions shall likewise apply to 
monopolies delegated by the State to other bodies. 
Article 20 
 
Payments  
 1. Payments in freely convertible currencies relati ng to trade in goods between the Parties and 
the transfer of such payments to the territory of the Party where th e creditor resides shall be free from 
any restrictions. 
2. The Parties shall refrain from any exchange or administrative restrictions on the grant, 
repayment or acceptance of short a nd medium term credits to trade in goods in which person residing 
in one of the Parties participates.  
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2,  any measure regarding current payments 
related to flow of goods shall conform to the cond itions stipulated in Article VIII of the Articles of 
Agreement of International Monetary Fund. 
Article 21 
 
Rules Of Competition Concerning Undertakings
 
 1. The following are incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement in so far as 
they can affect trade between the Parties: WT/REG189/1 
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 (a) all agreements between undertakings, decisi ons by associations of undertakings and 
concerted practices concerning undertakings which have as their objective or effect 
the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition; 
(b) abuse by one or more economical agents of a dominant position in the territories of 
the Parties, as a whole or in substantial part thereof.  
2. If one Party considers that a certain practice is incompatible with the provisions of paragraph 
1 of this Article, or if such a practice causes or th reatens to cause serious prejudice to the interests of 
this Party or material injury to its domestic  industry, it may take appropriate measures, upon 
consultations within the Joint Committee or after 30  days after a request for such consultations is 
made. 
Article 22 
 
State Aid
 
 1. Any aid granted by one Party or through State resources in any form whatsoever, distorting or 
threatening to distort competition by favouring certain  undertakings or the production of certain goods 
shall be incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement, insofar as it may affect trade 
between the Parties.  
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to products covered by Chapter II of this 
Agreement. 
3. The Parties shall ensure transp arency of state aid measures, inter alia  also through annual 
reporting to the Joint Committee on the whole volume of the state aid and its distribution and will 
provide, on the other Party’s request, information on the schemes in specific cases. 
4. If one Party considers that a given practice is in compatible with the provisions of this Article, 
it may take appropriate measures against this practice, which shall not be in excess of the injury caused, under the conditions and in accordance with th e procedures laid down in Article 30 of this 
Agreement. Such appropriate measures may only be  taken in conformity with the procedures and 
under the conditions laid down by  the GATT 1994 and WTO and any other relevant instrument 
negotiated under their auspices, which are applicable between the Parties. 
Article 23 
 
Public Procurement
 
 
1. The Parties consider the liberalization of th eir respective public procurement markets as an 
objective of this Agreement. 
2. The Parties shall progressively develop regulati ons on public procurement for the purpose of 
ensuring mutual access to bidding based contracting on their public procurement markets, at the latest 
to the end of transitional period from Article 1 of this Agreement. 
3. The Joint Committee shall examine the evolution of  regulations in this area, aiming to meet 
the objectives of this Article, and shall recomme nd concrete ways to implement its provisions. 
4. During the time of examination indicted in Pa ragraph 3, the Joint Committee may take into 
consideration, in particular, within the framewo rk of international rela tions development, the  WT/REG189/1 
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 possibility of extending the cove rage or/and degree of openness of  the market mentioned in  
paragraph 2. 
Article 24 
 
Intellectual Property Protection  
 
1. The Parties shall grant and ensure adequate, effective and non-discriminatory protection of 
intellectual property rights, including measures for the enforcement of such rights. The protection shall be improved to a level corresponding to the su bstantive standards of the multilateral agreements, 
which are specified in Annex II to this Agreement by the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 
2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the protection of intellectual property rights includes 
mainly the protection of copyright, computer progr ams, databases and related rights, trademarks, 
geographic indications, industrial pr ojects, patents, integrated circuits and drawings, as well as 
undisclosed information on know-how. 
3. The Parties shall co-operate in intellectual pr operty rights protection matters and, at the 
request of any Party, consultations on expert leve l regarding these problems shall be held, mainly in 
areas dealing with the existing and future interna tional conventions on harm onization, administration 
and enforcement of intellectual pr operty rights and on activities in inte rnational organizations such as 
the WTO and World Organization on Intellectual Propert y, as well as the relationships of the Parties 
with any other third country on intellectual property matter. 
Article 25 
 
Dumping
 
  If one of the Parties finds that dumping, in th e meaning of Article VI of GATT 1994, is taking 
place in the trade relations governed by this Agr eement, the concerned Party may take appropriate 
measures against this practice under the conditions a nd in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 30 of this Agreement, as well as in conf ormity with Article VI of GATT 1994 and with the 
WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994.  
Article 26 
 
General Safeguards
 
  Where any product is being imported in such  increased quantities and under conditions as to 
cause, or threaten to cause:  
(a) serious injuries to domestic producers of like or directly competitive products in the 
territory of the importing Party, or 
(b) serious disturbances in any related sector of the economy or difficulties which could 
bring serious deterioration in the economic situation of a certain region, 
the Party concerned may take appropriate measur es under the conditions and in accordance with the 
procedures laid down in Artic le 30 of this Agreement. 
 WT/REG189/1 
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 Article 27 
 
Structural Adjustment
 
 1. Exceptional measures of limited duration, which derogate from the provisions of Article 4, 
may be taken by the Parties in the form of increased customs duties. 
2. These measures may only concern infant i ndustries, or certain sectors undergoing 
restructuring or facing serious difficulties, particularly where these difficulties produce important social problems. 
3. Import customs duties applied by one of the Par ties for goods originating in other Party shall 
not exceed 25% ad valorem  and shall contain a preference element in terms of the rate of customs 
duty for goods originating in other Party. The tota l value of imported goods subject to such measures 
cannot exceed 15% of the total amount of imports of  industrial goods from the other Party during the 
last year for which statistic data is valid. 
4. These measures shall apply for a period that will not exceed two years, otherwise the 
authorization of the Joint Committee is needed. They will seize to be applied, at latest, by the end of 
the transition period. 
5. No measure can be applied to goods if more than two years passed since the removal of all 
customs duties and quantitative restrictions or me asures having equivalent effect for such goods. 
6. The interested Party shall inform the other Part y of any exceptional measure it intends to take 
and, at the request of the other Party, consultations  shall be held within th e Joint Committee regarding 
such measures and sectors to which they apply, befo re they are applied. When taking such measures, 
the Party concerned shall provide the Joint Committ ee with a schedule for the elimination of customs 
duties introduced under this Article. This schedul e shall provide for a phasing out of these duties, 
starting at the latest two years after their introduc tion, at equal rates. The Joint Committee may decide 
upon a different schedule. 
Article 28 
 
Re-Export And Serious Shortage
 
  Where compliance with the provisions of Articles 6 and 8 leads to:  
(a) re-export towards a third country, against wh ich the exporting Party maintains for that 
product quantitative export restrictions, export duties, or measures or charges having 
equivalent effect; or 
(b) serious shortage, or a threat thereof, of a product essential to the exporting Party,  
and where the situation referred to above gives rise or  is likely to give rise to major difficulties for the 
exporting Party, that Party may take appropriate  measures under the  conditions and in accordance 
with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of  this Agreement. The measures shall be non-
discriminatory and be eliminated when c onditions no longer their maintenance.  
  WT/REG189/1 
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 Article 29 
 
Fulfilment Of Obligations  
 1. The Parties shall take all necessary measures to  ensure the fulfilment of their obligations 
under the provisions of this Agreement. 
2. If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under this 
Agreement, the Party concerned may take the appropriate measures under the conditions and in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of this Agreement.  
Article 30 
 
Procedure For The Application Of Safeguard Measures
 
 1. Before initiating the procedure for the appli cation of safeguard measures set out in the 
following paragraphs of the present Article, the Pa rties shall endeavour to solve any differences 
between them through direct consultations. 
2. In the event of Party subjecting imports of products  liable to give rise to the situation referred 
to in Article 26 of this Agreement to an admi nistrative procedure having as its purpose the rapid 
provisions of information on the trend of trad e flows, it shall inform the other Party. 
3. Without prejudice to paragraph 7 of the present Article, each Party, which considers resorting 
to safeguard measures, shall promptly notify the othe r Party and shall supply all relevant information.  
Consultations between the Parties shall take plac e without delay but not later than 30 days after 
requesting such consultations in the Joint Committee with a view to finding acceptable solution to the 
Parties. 
4. (a) As regards Article 21 and 23, the Parties shall give the Joint Committee all required 
assistance required in order to examine the cas e.  If the Party fails to stop the practice 
objected to, within the period fixed by the Joint Committee, or if the Joint Committee 
fails to reach an agreement after consultati ons, or after 30 days following the referral 
for such consultations, the Party concerne d may adopt the appropriate measures to 
deal with the difficulties resulting from the disputed practice. 
(b) As regards Articles 25, 26 and 27, the Jo int Committee shall ex amine the case or 
situation and may take any decision needed to put an end to the difficulties notified 
by the Party concerned.  In absence of su ch a decision within 30 days of the matter 
being referred to the Joint Committee, th e Party concerned may adopt the necessary 
measures in order to remedy the situation. 
(c) As regards Article 29 the Party concerned may take appropriate measures after the 
consultation have been concluded or a pe riod of three months has elapsed from the 
date of the notification of the other Party. 
5. The safeguard measures taken shall be immediatel y notified to the other Party. They shall be 
restricted with regard to their ex tent and to their duration to what  is strictly necessary in order to 
rectify the situation-giving rise to their applicati on and shall not be in excess of the injury caused by 
the practice or the difficulty in qu estion. Priority shall be given to  such measures as will least disturb 
the functioning of the Agreement. WT/REG189/1 
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 6. The safeguard measures taken shall be object of periodic consultations within the Joint 
Committee with a view to their relaxation as soon as possible or abolition when conditions no longer 
justify their maintenance.  
7. When exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make prior examination 
impossible, the Party concerned may, in the case s of Articles 25, 26 and 27, apply forthwith the 
precautionary and provisional measures strictly n ecessary to remedy the respective situation.  The 
measures shall be notified without delay and consultations between th e Parties shall take place as soon 
as possible within th e Joint Committee. 
Article 31 
 
Balance-Of-Payments Difficulties
 
 1. Where either Party is in serious balance-of-p ayments difficulties, or under imminent threat 
thereof, the Party concerned may adopt, in accord ance with the conditions established by GATT 1994 
and the WTO, trade restrictive measures, which sha ll be of limited duration and may not go beyond 
what is necessary to remedy the balance-of-payment s situation.  The measures shall be progressively 
attenuated, as the balance-of-payments conditions improve, and they shall be eliminated when 
conditions no longer justify their maintenance. The Party in concer ned shall inform the other Party 
and the Joint Committee forthwith their introduction a nd, whenever practicable, of a time schedule for 
their removal.  
2. The Parties shall endeavour to  avoid the imposition of restri ctive measures base on balance-
of-payments difficulties. 
Article 32 
 
Evolutionary Clause
 
 
1. Where either Party considers that it would be u seful in the interest of the economies of the 
Parties to develop the relations established by this Agreement by extending them to fields not covered 
thereby, it shall submit a reasoned request to the other Party. The Parties may instruct the Joint 
Committee to examine this request and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to them, 
particularly with a view to opening negotiations. 
2. Agreements resulting from the pro cedure referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article will be 
subject to ratification or approval by the Parties to  this Agreement in accord ance with their internal 
legal procedure. 
 
CHAPTER IV: INSTITUTIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
Article 33 
 
The Joint Committee  
 1. The Parties agree to establish a Joint Co mmittee composed of their representatives. 
2. The implementation of this Agreement shall be  supervised and administrated by the Joint 
Committee.  WT/REG189/1 
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 3. For the purpose of the proper implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall exchange 
information and, at the request of any Party, shall hold consultations within the Joint Committee.  The 
Joint Committee shall keep under review the possibilit y of further removal of the obstacles to trade 
between the Parties.   
4. The Joint Committee may take deci sions in the cases provide for in this Agreement. On other 
matters the Joint Committee may take recommendations. 
Article 34 
 
Procedures Of The Joint Committee  
 
1. For the proper implementation of this Agreemen t, the Joint Committee shall meet whenever 
necessary but at least once a year.  Either Party may request a meeting to be held. 
2. The Joint Committee shal l act by consensus.  
3. If a representative of a Party in the Joint Comm ittee has accepted a decision, subject to the 
fulfilment of internal legal require ments, the decision shall enter in to force, if no later date is 
contained therein, on the date of the receipt of the written notification about the fulfilment of such 
requirements. 
4. For the purpose of this Agreement, the Joint Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure, 
which shall, inter alia , contain provisions for convening meetings  and for the designation of the Chair 
person and its term of office.  
5. The Joint Committee may decide to set up su ch sub-committees and working groups as it 
considers necessary to assist it in accomplishing its tasks. 
Article 35 
 
Customs Unions, Free Trade Areas And Frontier Trade  
 
1. The provisions of this Agreement apply to a ll trade relationships between the Parties. 
2. This Agreement shall not prevent the mainte nance or establishment of customs unions, free-
trade zones, economic unions or arrangements for frontier trade to the extent that these do not 
negatively affect the trade regime between the Par ties and in particular the provisions concerning 
rules of origin provided for by this Agreement.  
Article 36 
 
Annexes And Protocols  
 1. Annexes and Protocols to this Agreement are an integral part of it. 
2. The Joint Committee may decide to amend Anne xes and Protocols to this Agreement in 
accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 34.   WT/REG189/1 
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 Article 37 
 
Amendments
 
  Amendments to this Agreement, as well as to its including Annexes and Protocols shall enter 
into force on the date of receipt of the last notifi cation, through diplomatic channels, confirming that 
all internal legal procedures required by either Part y for their entry into force have been fulfilled. 
 
Article 38 
 
Duration And Denunciation
 
 1. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time. 
2. Either Party may denounce this Agreement by a written notification to the other Party. The 
Agreement shall terminate on the first day of the seventh month following the date when the other 
Party received the denunciation notice. 
3. In the event of any Party to this Agreement b ecoming a member of the European Union, that 
Party will withdraw from this Agreement at the la test the day before membership takes effect. 
Article 39 
 
Entry Into Force
 
 
 This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date 
of the receipt of the last written notification by  which the Parties inform each other through 
diplomatic channels that all necessary requirements fo reseen by their internal legislation for the entry 
into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled. 
 
  DONE at Chisinau, on  27 of February 2004 in  two originals, in Moldavian, Croatian and 
English languages, being equally authentic. In case of  divergence in interpretation the English text 
shall prevail.  
 
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA  FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA    
__________