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# 52014PC0359

**Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the Union’s position in the Cooperation Council established by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States on the one hand and the Republic of Moldova on the other, with regard to adopting a Recommendation on implementing the EU-Moldova Association Agenda /\* COM/2014/0359 final - 2014/0181 (NLE) \*/**

  

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova (thereinafter ‘Moldova’), of the other part (‘the Agreement’), was signed
on 28 November 1994 and entered into force on 1 July 1998. It is based on a
commitment to shared values and effective implementation of political, economic
and institutional reforms.

A joint EU-Moldova European Neighbourhood
Policy Action Plan, based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement,
sets out strategic objectives and encourages and supports Moldova’s objective of further integration into European economic and social structures.

Moldova is a
partner country within the European Neighbourhood Policy. This has changed the
context of relations between it and the European Union in a significant and
positive way. The EU and Moldova have now finalised negotiations for an
Association Agreement, which will replace the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement. These negotiations were substantively completed on 25 June 2013, and
the Agreement was initialled on 29 November 2013 during the Eastern Partnership
Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The Association Agreement will
significantly deepen Moldova’s political association with and economic
integration in the EU. It includes the gradual implementation of a deep and
comprehensive free-trade area.

The successful implementation of a visa
liberalisation action plan has resulted in visa-free travel between the EU and Moldova, and is a fundamental element underpinning the Republic of Moldova’s political association
with and economic integration in the EU. This substantial enhancement of
mobility and people-to-people contacts was envisaged in the Association
Agreement.

The EU Heads of State and Government
initially planned to sign the Association Agreement in the autumn of 2014.
Prompted by worrisome developments in Ukraine, which could also impact other
countries in the region, signature of the agreement was brought forward to
August, and then to June. The institutions are working hard to shorten the time
needed to finalise the Agreement texts, and to ensure that this objective is
met.

The Association Agreement can only enter
into force once it is ratified by all parties (i.e. the EU, its Member States and Moldova). This is likely to be a lengthy process, possibly lasting several
years. Therefore, the Agreement envisages the provisional application of
certain of its parts once Moldova has completed the necessary procedures (note
that the Constitution of Moldova allows for direct provisional application,
without prior ratification) and once the EU has notified its readiness for
provisional application to start.

The aim of the Association Agenda is to
prepare and facilitate implementation of the Association Agreement. It creates
a practical framework through which the overriding objectives of political
association and economic integration can be achieved. It replaces the
EU-Moldova European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.

Based on the structure of the Association
Agreement, the Association Agenda sets out a list of priorities for joint work
in the 2014-16 period. The fact that the Association Agenda focuses on a
limited number of priorities does not affect the scope or mandate of the
current dialogue held under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement or other
agreements. It does not prejudge the implementation of commitments made under
the Association Agreement once it enters into force or is provisionally
applied. Unlike the Association Agreement, the Association Agenda is not a
legally-binding instrument under international law.

The proposal for a Council Decision on the
Union position in the EU-Moldova Cooperation Council with regard to adopting
the Association Agenda follows.

The Commission requests that the Council
adopts this draft Council Decision.

2014/0181 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the Union’s position in the Cooperation
Council established by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States on the one hand and the Republic of
Moldova on the other, with regard to adopting a Recommendation on implementing
the EU-Moldova Association Agenda

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 217, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States on
one hand and the Republic of Moldova on the other (‘the PCA’), and in
particular Article 82 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)       The PCA was signed on 28
November 1994 and entered into force on 1 July 1998.

(2)       The Association Agreement
between the European Union and its Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part (‘the Association Agreement’), was initialled on 29
November 2013 during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

(3)       Pending its entry into
force, the Association Agreement is to be provisionally applied as soon as is
possible for the parties involved.

(4)       To support the
implementation of the Association Agreement, the parties have agreed to
negotiate an Association Agenda that will include a list of priorities for
joint work in the 2014-16 period.

(5)       The parties have agreed on
an Association Agenda which will be adopted by the Cooperation Council set up
under the PCA, pending the establishment of the institutional framework of the
Association Agreement.

(6)       The Union’s position to be
taken in the Cooperation Council on adopting the recommendation on implementing
the EU-Moldova Association Agenda must be adopted by the Council,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Union’s position in the Cooperation
Council established by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the
European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, with regard to implementation of the Association
Agenda shall be based on the draft Recommendation of the Cooperation Council
attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision enters into force on the day
of its adoption.

Done at Brussels,

                                                                       For
the Council

                                                                       The
President

ANNEXES

to the

Commission Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION
on the Union's position in the Cooperation Council established by the
Partnership and  Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part,
with regard to adopting a Recommendation on implementing of the EU-Moldova
Association Agenda

ANNEX 1

Draft

RECOMMENDATION

On
implementing the EU-Moldova Association Agenda

THE
EU-MOLDOVA COOPERATION COUNCIL,

Having regard to the EU-Moldova Partnership
and Cooperation Agreement, which established a partnership between the European
Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova,
of the other part (hereinafter ‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 82
thereof,

Whereas:

Under Article 82 of the Agreement, a
Cooperation Council was established to supervise the Agreement’s
implementation, and may make appropriate recommendations, by agreement between
the two parties.

The parties to the Agreement have agreed on
the text of the Association Agenda, which aims to prepare and facilitate the
implementation of the future Association Agreement by creating a practical
framework to help achieve the overriding objectives of political association
and economic integration.

The Association Agenda has a dual purpose:
to set out specific steps to ensure that the parties meet their obligations
under the Association Agreement, and to provide a broader framework for further
strengthening EU-Moldova relations, and specifically to facilitate deeper
economic integration and political cooperation, in accordance with the overall
objectives of the Association Agreement.

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION:

Sole
Article

The Cooperation Council recommends that the
parties implement the EU-Moldova Association Agenda set out in Annex, insofar
as implementation aims to achieve the objectives of the EU-Moldova Association
Agreement, which established an Association between the European Community and
its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other
part.

Done at […]

For the Cooperation Council

The President

ANNEX
2

Association Agenda

between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova

The European Union and the Republic of Moldova (‘the parties’) recognise that the context of their relations has
changed in a significant and positive way since they entered into the Eastern
Partnership. The parties began negotiations on an Association Agreement in
2010, and on a deep and comprehensive free-trade area that would be an integral
part of that Agreement, in 2012. They have also developed and launched a visa
liberalisation action plan, whose successful implementation is a fundamental
element underpinning the Republic of Moldova’s political association with and
economic integration in the European Union. This substantial enhancement of
mobility and people-to-people contacts was envisaged in the Association
Agreement.

Negotiations
on the Association Agreement were completed on 25 June 2013, and the Agreement
was initialled on 29 November 2013. Before the full Agreement enters into
force, measures must be put in place to ensure that the parties are able to
enjoy its full benefits; the Agreement’s partial provisional application is the
first of these measures. The aim of the Association Agenda is to prepare and
facilitate the implementation of the Association Agreement, by creating a
practical framework through which the overriding objectives of political
association and economic integration can be achieved. It replaces the
EU-Moldova European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.

The Association Agenda sets out a list of
priorities for joint work in the 2014-16 period, based on the structure of the
Association Agreement.

The fact that the Association Agenda
focuses upon a limited number of priorities does not affect the scope or
mandate of dialogue currently being carried out under the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement, other relevant agreements or the multilateral track of
the Eastern Partnership. It does not prejudge the implementation of commitments
made under the Association Agreement once this enters into force or is
provisionally applied.

1.         Principles, instruments and
resources for implementing the Association Agenda

The following common principles will guide
the implementation of the Association Agenda:

Actions undertaken as part of the
Association Agenda should be implemented in the spirit of the overall
objectives of political association and economic integration;

The priorities of the Association Agenda
reflect the responsibility of the EU and the Republic of Moldova to fully
implement the provisions of their Association Agreement, once it enters into
force;

The Association Agenda should be
implemented in full respect of the principles of transparency, accountability
and inclusiveness;

Both parties must be involved in
implementing the Association Agenda;

The Association Agenda aims to achieve
tangible and defined results through the progressive implementation of
practical measures;

The parties recognise the importance of
supporting the agreed priorities through appropriate and sufficient political,
technical and financial means; and

The implementation of the Association
Agenda will be subject to annual reporting, monitoring and assessment. Progress
made will be reviewed, including under the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement and other relevant agreements.

The European Union will support the Republic of Moldova in implementing the objectives and priorities set out in the
Association Agenda. To do this, it will: use all available sources of EU
support; provide expertise and advice; facilitate the sharing of best
practices, know-how, and information; and support capacity-building and
institutional strengthening. It will also encourage and seek coordination of
support from the Republic of Moldova’s other partners. It will use its relevant
financial instruments to help implement the Association Agenda. However, the
Association Agenda is not a financial programming document and is not a
substitute for the financial programming carried out by the parties.

The EU will provide support in the context
of the overall priorities for assistance to the Republic of Moldova, as outlined in the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) Single Support Framework
(SSF) and in the multi-country programming prepared for the Republic of Moldova through the ENI.  It will do so in full compliance with the implementation
rules and procedures governing EU external assistance.

The Association Agenda will be applicable
from the moment of its adoption, for an initial period of three years, which
may be extended by mutual agreement. Once it is adopted, it will replace the
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan as way of monitoring the Republic of Moldova’s progress within the ENP framework. Civil society will also be
encouraged to focus their monitoring work on the Association Agenda. The EU
will be responsible for reporting on the implementation of the Association
Agenda; it will be supported by the Republic of Moldova’s own reporting
systems.

If necessary, the Association Agenda may be
amended or updated at any time, by agreement of the Cooperation Council
(Association Council) of the European Union and the Republic of Moldova, in particular when the Association Agreement enters into force.

2.         Priorities of the Association
Agenda

2.1       Political dialogue and reform

Political dialogue and cooperation on
reforms to be carried out in the framework of this Association Agenda seek to
strengthen respect for democratic principles, the rule of law and good
governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of
persons belonging to minorities as enshrined in the
core UN and Council of Europe Conventions and related protocols. The Council of
Europe Action Plan should be taken into account when pursuing political
dialogue and implementing reforms in the following areas:[1]

(i)         Strengthening the stability,
independence and effectiveness of institutions guaranteeing democracy and the
rule of law in the Republic of Moldova, and in particular:

clarifying the competencies of the
constitutional court and the appointment procedures of its members, in close
cooperation with the Venice Commission;

reviewing the process of electing the
President (Article 78 of the Constitution), to ensure that it is inclusive and
guarantees a separation of powers. A more comprehensive revision of the
constitution is still needed in the long term, to prevent the resurgence of
institutional deadlock;

ensuring that parliamentary and local
elections are carried out in a democratic way, in accordance with European
standards, and that they address any shortcomings identified by the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe / Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR);

pursuing the implementation of the
decentralisation strategy, in compliance with the Council of Europe’s European
Charter of Local Self-Government (Council of Europe Treaty Series No 122);

upgrading the legal framework for financing
political parties and electoral campaigns in the light of the joint opinions of
the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission and the recommendation made by the
Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) on the transparency of party
funding.

(ii)     Further
reforming the justice sector, in particular ensuring the independence,
impartiality, professionalism and efficiency of the judiciary, the prosecution,
and law enforcement agencies, which should be free from political or any other
undue interference, and intensifying the prevention of and fight against
corruption in all its forms and at all  levels. Some elements of the
comprehensive reform of the justice sector may require constitutional
amendments:

ensuring the full functioning of the
National Anti-corruption Centre, including by ensuring sufficient budget and
staffing, and taking part in international cooperation against corruption;

ensuring the independence of the National
Anti-corruption Centre, including in the appointment and dismissal of its
director and deputy directors through an open, transparent and merit-based
procedure clearly defined by the law, and in its oversight and accountability
in operations;

reviewing current legislation that
considers the permanent appointment of judges as an extension of the first
appointment, for which judges should meet pre-established criteria;

working towards strengthening the
independence of justice-sector institutions, so that they are not subject to
political or any other form of pressure from the administration, the government
or the parliament; implementing a new system of disciplinary responsibility for
judges, to ensure that they meet their responsibilities towards society;

reviewing current legislation relating to
judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other legal professionals, to promote zero
tolerance for corruption and prevent of all kinds of corrupt behaviour;

moving forward on work to transfer the
responsibility for pre-trial detention centres from the Ministry of Interior to
the Ministry of Justice;

reviewing current legislation to give the
Superior Council of Magistrates the leading role in making decisions on
allocating resources to courts;

making progress on a comprehensive reform
of the prosecution;

revising the legal framework on the
National Institute of Justice, to modernise the training system in place for
judges and prosecutors and improve the efficiency of its activities;

implementing a reform of the Ombudsman
institution, in line with the Law on the Ombudsman endorsed by the government
on 4 September 2013.

(iii)
   Ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through
comprehensive cooperation on the protection of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. This cooperation will include work in the following areas, to:

Human rights and fundamental freedoms

Implement the National Human Rights Action
Plan (2011-14), with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, and coordinate the
planning and budget processes to allocate sufficient resources for effective
implementation;

Ensure the full application of laws and
regulations against discrimination on all grounds, including the Law on
Ensuring Equality, and strengthen the capacity of the Council for Preventing
and Eradicating Discrimination (‘Equality Council’);

Consider the recommendations made by the
Council of Europe’s structures and experts regarding compliance with the
Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities, and implement
them in agreement with these structures and experts;

Ensure the effective implementation of the
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;

Ensure the effective execution of judgments
made by the European Court of Human Rights;

Maintain effective pre- and non-judicial
mechanisms for dispute settlement, including in the field of human rights and
fundamental freedoms;

Continue to give access to information on
citizens’ rights and adequate legal solutions;

Promote and raise awareness of human rights
and anti-discrimination in the judiciary, law enforcement and the
administration.

Freedom of expression

Continue work on ensuring the freedom of
expression and independence of the media, in line with Council of Europe
recommendations;

Set up a regular dialogue to exchange best
practices on freedom of the media, media pluralism, decriminalisation of
defamation, protection of journalist sources, and cultural diversity in the
media.

Civil society cooperation

Involve civil society organisations, in
particular representative employers’ organisations and trade unions, in
collecting information and monitoring policies.

Trafficking in human beings

Approve and implement the National Action
Plan on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings (2014-16);

Deepen cooperation on trafficking, in the
framework of the relevant international organisations (OSCE, UN).

Ill-treatment and torture

Put in place a comprehensive policy
framework to prevent and combat impunity based on the guidelines on eradicating
impunity for serious human rights violations (Council of Europe, 2011);

Effectively address any reported
ill-treatment of detainees by law enforcement officials, in particular in
pre-trial detention.

Children’s rights

Implement the relevant provisions of the
National Human Rights Action Plan, including working to enforce children’s
rights and eradicating children's poverty.

Domestic violence

Ensure full implementation of the existing
legislative framework on domestic violence.

Equal treatment

Enhance gender equality, ensure equal
treatment between women and men in social and economic life, including in the
law enforcement sector, and introduce practical measures to address the gender
pay gap;

Ensure harmonisation with European
standards as regards health and safety rules, rules on maternity leave, and
rules on the reconciliation of parental and professional responsibilities;

Promote women’s participation in
decision-making and public and political life, and carry out targeted
activities in these areas.

Trade union rights and core labour
standards

Continue work to ensure that trade union
rights and core labour standards are upheld in accordance with European
standards and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

Anti-corruption and administrative
reform

Address the fight against corruption at all
levels of society, especially high-level corruption, and implement the relevant
recommendations of the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption
(GRECO);

Implement the National Anticorruption
Strategy 2011-15 and the Action Plan for 2014-15, in close cooperation with
civil society and international organisations;

Continue with the reform of the public
administration, with a view to building an accountable, efficient, transparent
and professional civil service;

Strengthen coordination and information
exchange between the authorities responsible for the fight against corruption,
including by establishing clear working arrangements between the National
Anticorruption Centre and the National Commission for Integrity;

Set up specialised units of the National
Anticorruption Centre to address cases involving high-level officials or
large-scale damage, in order better to tackle high-level corruption;

Strengthen the operational capacity of the National
Commission for Integrity. Put in place a functional framework for carrying out
efficient financial investigations and asset recovery;

Implement an operational and reliable
system for transparency and verification of public officials’ wealth and
interests, to prevent and address the issue of unjustified wealth and potential
conflicts of interest, by strengthening the role of the National Commission for
Integrity;

Work towards strengthening the status of
the anti-corruption institutions through civil society involvement and
well-advertised and well-serviced hotlines for citizens' complaints.

2.2       Foreign and security policy

Dialogue and cooperation in the field of
the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) aim at gradual convergence,
including on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). In particular, they
will address security, conflict prevention and crisis management issues,
regional stability, disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control and export
control. Cooperation in this area will be based on common values and mutual
interests, and will aim to increase policy harmonisation and effectiveness,
making use of bilateral, international and regional fora. It will include work
to:

promote peaceful conflict resolution and
international stability and security based on effective multilateralism;

develop cooperation on EU sanctions;

promote respect for the principles of
sovereignty and territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and
independence, as set out in the UN Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act;

strengthen practical cooperation on
conflict prevention and crisis management, by facilitating the Republic of
Moldova’s participation in EU-led civilian and military crisis management
operations, and provide consultation and training activities in the CSDP area
(on the basis of the Framework Participation Agreement in force from 1 July
2013 and the multilateral framework of the Eastern Partnership Panel on CSDP);

launch and conclude negotiations on the
Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on security
procedures for the exchange of classified information on
CSDP-related issues, as a follow-up to the Agreement
between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union establishing a framework
for the Republic of Moldova’s
participation in EU crisis management operations, in force since 1 July 2013.

Terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) and illegal arms exports

strengthen international consensus on the
human-rights-based fight against terrorism, including on the legal definition
of terrorist acts, by promoting agreement on the Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism, and continue to improve the legislative and regulatory
national framework in the area of fighting terrorism;

exchange information on terrorist
organisations, groups, their activities and their support networks, in
accordance with international law and the legislation passed by the parties;

implement the standards set out in the
recommendations on the financing of terrorists prepared by the Financial Action
Task Force (FATF);

develop ways of working together on the
fight against arms trafficking and the destruction of stockpiles;

develop ways of working together and
exchanging information on detecting and tracking illegal weapons;

cooperate on and contribute to countering
the proliferation of WMDs and related materials, as well as their means of
delivery, through full compliance with and national implementation of the
parties’ current obligations under international disarmament and
non-proliferation treaties and agreements, and other relevant international
obligations;

set up an effective system of national
export and transit control of goods related to WMDs, including a WMD-end-use
control on dual-use technologies, with effective penalties for breaches of
export controls;

cooperate on risk-based customs controls
that ensure the safety and security of goods that have been imported, exported,
or are in transit;

tackle the illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons, including their ammunition, under current international
agreements and UN Security Council resolutions, and commitments under other
international instruments applicable in this area;

continue to strengthen institutional
capacity by adopting the best international practices and experiences in the
field of fighting terrorism;

continue to cooperate in the area of
conventional arms export control, in light of the EU’s common position on
control of exports of military technology and equipment.

The Transnistria conflict

maintain the parties’ constructive
participation in the OSCE-led negotiation process aimed at settling the
Transnistria conflict;

maintain effective cooperation between the
EU and the Republic of Moldova on settling the Transnistria conflict, within
the agreed ‘5+2’ format, including consultations on post-settlement
arrangements;

strengthen dialogue, with the aim of
explaining the benefits of the Association Agreement, and ensure its
applicability in the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova;

continue constructive dialogue with all
relevant counterparts on border issues pertaining to the Transnistria conflict.

The International Criminal Court

implement the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court and its related instruments, with due regard to
preserving its integrity.

2.3       Cooperation on justice,
freedom and security

The parties will work together in the
following areas, to:

Protection of personal data

continue implementing the legislative
framework and ensure a high level of protection of personal data, in accordance
with European instruments and standards;

continue to strengthen the capacity
building of the data protection authority (National Centre for Personal Data
Protection) and follow up on the application of data protection standards in
all sectors, especially regarding law enforcement.

Cooperation on migration, asylum and
border management

Migration

continue to effectively implement the
readmission agreement between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, and measures
for reintegrating Moldovan citizens;

reinforce the existing infrastructure
(including detention centres) and staffing of responsible bodies to ensure the
effective return of illegally residing and/or transiting third-country
nationals from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, ensure
respect for the human rights of immigrants in administrative detention, and
develop the integration framework;

continue to strengthen the Bureau for Migration
and Asylum (BMA) as a coordinator for the sound management of migration flows, and improve reception conditions and the
registration of foreigners, especially the work of one-stop-shops responsible
for registering foreigners at central and local level;

continue to strengthen the regional
services of the BMA’s Illegal Migration Directorate, ensure the BMA’s presence
at regional level, and set up local-level premises that are distinct from the
national police;

continue to update the Extended Migration
Profile after its initial successful publication, and integrate it in migration
policy decision-making, where possible;

proceed with the organisation of
continuous, targeted information campaigns that aim to clarify the rights and
obligations of visa-free travel, including information on rules regulating
access to the EU labour market (including through the EU immigration portal)
and on liability for any abuse of rights under the visa-free regime.

Asylum

continue to implement the 2009 law on
asylum, which provides a solid framework for protecting those in need of
international protection, and amend
this law to further align it with international and European standards;

maintain an efficient Refugee Status
Determination procedure;

continue to train judges and magistrates on
asylum- and migration matters, and more specifically on handling legal appeal
procedures in these fields;

further develop the integration framework;

activate biometric identity documents and
start issuing travel documents to refugees.

Border management

further strengthen border management and
maintain the high level of border checks and border surveillance, and extend
and upgrade fixed- and mobile video surveillance facilities;

upgrade the situational picture at national
and local level by fine-tuning further risk analysis, intelligence and
data-flow management;

continue to provide adequate
infrastructure, technical equipment, IT systems, and financial and human
resources, in accordance with the Republic of Moldova’s Integrated Border
Management (IBM) Strategy and action plans;

maintain and extend anticorruption training
programmes and measures;

continue to act on opportunities to carry
out joint actions, training and expert advice from the EU Border Assistance
Mission to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (EUBAM), Frontex and EU Member
States;

use the leverage provided by EUBAM’s
presence to step up and develop cooperation with the Ukrainian Border Guard
Service, including on the automatic exchange of nominal data;

explore opportunities with Ukrainian
partners for additional shared Border Crossing Points (BCPs) and joint
patrolling of the border, including on the central part of the common border
between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

Police reform, crime prevention and
combating organised crime

ensure compliance with the rule of law and
the protection of human rights by developing an accessible, accountable,
efficient, transparent and professional police force, introducing a
rights-based approach to policing, the use of intelligence-led policing, and
fighting crime, including cybercrime;

strengthen international operational police
cooperation, including by setting up and using joint investigation teams, and
strengthen cross-border cooperation by carrying out joint operations;

establish closer cooperation with Europol,
including by concluding an operational cooperation agreement.

Tackling illicit drugs

continue to implement relevant strategy and
action plans, and draft a new action plan;

continue to ensure a balanced and
integrated approach to drug issues, in order to handle the health- and social
consequences of drug abuse, ensure more effective prevention, and work towards
reducing the supply of, trafficking in and demand for illicit drugs;

strengthen the institutional structures for
tackling illicit drugs;

continue the regular dialogue in the
framework of the Eastern Partnership Drugs Dialogue;

further develop the cooperation and
information exchange, and continue to work with the European Monitoring Centre
for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and within the Council of Europe’s
Pompidou Group.

Legal cooperation

continue to strengthen judicial cooperation
in civil and commercial matters by:

acceding to and implementing multilateral
conventions on civil judicial cooperation and, in particular, the Conventions
of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the field of judicial
cooperation,

acceding to and implementing multilateral
conventions on the protection of children, especially the 1970 Convention on
Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, and

preparing the ground for accession and
implementation of the 1996 Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law,
Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility
and Measures for the Protection of Children, in particular by assessing
national capacities and resources;

strengthen judicial cooperation in criminal
matters by acceding to and implementing the relevant conventions, especially
those of the Council of Europe;

establish closer cooperation with Eurojust,
including by signing and implementing an operational cooperation agreement.

2.4       Economic cooperation

The parties will work together to support
the Republic of Moldova in establishing a fully functioning market economy and
gradually bringing its policies more in line with EU policies, in accordance with the guiding principles
of macroeconomic stability, sound public finances, a strong financial system
and a sustainable balance of payments. This cooperation will include work to:

develop the Republic of Moldova’s capacity
in macro-economic forecasting, including improving the methodology used to
build development scenarios, monitoring economic processes, and improving the
quality of analysis carried out on factors of impact by exchanging information
on best practices;

strengthen the independence and regulatory
and supervision powers of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), including by
reviewing the central bank legislation to ensure that it follows EU best
practice, with the support of EU expertise, including from the European Central
Bank (ECB);

share EU experience, including from the
ECB, on monetary exchange rates and financial and banking sector regulation and
supervision policies, and help to develop and strengthen the Republic of Moldova’s capabilities in these areas;

reinforce the sustainability and governance
of public finances, by implementing fiscal and expenditure reforms;

develop open, competitive and transparent
privatisation rules and procedures, and implement them in line with best EU
practices.

Company law, accounting and auditing,
and corporate governance

The parties will work together to prepare
the Republic of Moldova for implementation of EU law and the international
instruments mentioned in annex to the draft Association Agreement, in
particular to:

develop the administrative capacity of the Republic of Moldova’s state institutions;

further simplify rules and procedures on
registering legal persons, including companies, and natural persons, including
entrepreneurs, to set up and liquidate businesses;

develop its corporate governance policy and
promote compliance with the code on corporate governance in line with
international standards and EU rules and recommendations in this area;

exchange timely, relevant and precise
information about the state-of-play of existing legislation and its compliance
with EU law, based on the format agreed between the parties, and submit a
more detailed action plan to implement EU law in line with the agreed
timetable;

identify areas in which training,
capacity-building and expertise should be provided.

Employment, social policies and equal
opportunities

The parties will worker together in order
to:

prepare for implementation of EU law in the
area of health and safety at work, labour law and working conditions, as
mentioned in the annexes to the future Association Agreement, and in particular
to:

strengthen administrative and enforcement
capacity in the areas of health and safety at work and labour law, notably the
labour inspectorate and relevant judiciary bodies,

build the capacity of social partners (e.g.
training on EU legislation and standards on health and safety, and on labour
law);

develop a strategic approach to employment,
aiming at more and better jobs with decent working conditions, better matching
of skills and jobs in the labour market and promoting active support and
efficient employment services; implement the decent work country programmes
agreed between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Republic of
Moldova;

strengthen the capacity of the
administration in charge of developing and implementing employment and social
policies, notably employment services and social services;

enhance the level of social protection and
ensure the efficiency and financial sustainability of social protection
systems;

continue to promote social dialogue,
including through capacity-building of social partners.

Consumer protection

To prepare for implementation of EU law and
the international instruments mentioned in annex to the future Association Agreement, the parties
will work together to:

strengthen the administrative capacity of
consumer protection enforcement in the Republic of Moldova, notably by training
government officials and other consumer interest representatives on the
transposition of EU legislation and its subsequent implementation and
enforcement.

Statistics

The parties will work together to bring
legislation in the Republic of Moldova closer in line with EU law in the field
of statistics. This cooperation will include work to:

conduct a population census, disseminating
its summary and detailed results, and developing a strategy to improve
estimated migration statistics;

revise the statistical law in line with the
recommendations of the global assessment (e.g. to strengthen the position and
independence of the Director-General of the National Bureau of Statistics by
introducing a fixed term of office and clear recruitment and dismissal
criteria), strengthen the protection of statistical confidentiality in the
production and dissemination processes, and reinstate the Statistical Council;

improve the quality of the Statistical
Business Register by developing and implementing clear procedures for updating
economic units, including all available administrative sources, improving
coverage of local units and individual entrepreneurs, and restructuring
business-related surveys in line with EU standards;

implement the 2008 Classification of
Products by activity (CPA), the 2010 List of Products of the European Community
(PRODCOM) and the 2008 System of National Accounts (SNA), and preparing for the
implementation of the 2010 European System of National and Regional Accounts
(ESA);

develop an overall quality assurance
framework, including a human resources and training policy.

Public administration reform and
management of public finances

The parties will work together to ensure
the development of a well-functioning public administration sector, sound
public finance management policies, and internal financial control and external
audit. This cooperation will include work to:

strengthen the institutional and human
resources capacity of central and local public administrations, to improve and
implement policy and ensure the efficient and effective delivery of
high-quality public services;

strengthen the transparency, oversight and
accountability of public finance policy and management;

improve public financial management (PFM)
and implement the Republic of Moldova’s PFM strategy for 2013-20;

improve the internal control system under
decentralised managerial responsibility, including functionally independent
internal audits in state authorities by ensuring harmonisation with
generally-accepted international standards and methodologies and EU best
practice;

ensure further development of the external
audit function of the Court of Accounts, in line with generally-accepted
international standards (INTOSAI);

ensure effective cooperation with and
assistance to the relevant EU institutions and bodies, including the European
Anti-Fraud Office for on-the-spot checks and inspections related to the
management and control of EU funds, to be provided in line with the applicable
rules and procedures.

Taxation

The parties will strengthen cooperation
aiming to improve and develop the Republic of Moldova’s tax system and
administration based on EU and international standards. This will include
preparation to gradually bring legislation in the Republic of Moldova more in line with EU law and the international
instruments mentioned in annex
to the future Association Agreement, and in particular work to:

improve and simplify tax legislation;

improve international tax cooperation to
enhance good governance in the tax area, i.e. by implementing the principles of
transparency, exchange of information and fair tax competition;

improve the capacity of the tax
administration, in particular by moving towards a more focused, risk-based
system for tax control and audits;

take measures to harmonise policies to
combat fraud and the smuggling of excisable products;

develop cooperation with the tax
administrations of EU Member States by exchanging new experiences and trends in
the field of taxation.

Financial services

The parties will work together to prepare
the Republic of Moldova for implementation of EU law listed in annex to the
future Association Agreement and of the international standards listed in the
relevant article of the DCFTA. This cooperation will include work to:

improve the administrative capacity of
supervisory authorities in accordance with EU law;

establish contacts and exchange information
with the EU financial supervisors;

develop national legislation on preventing
and combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in particular
by: implementing EU legislation in these areas; strengthening cooperation with the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Council of Europe, MONEYVAL, any other
relevant authorities in EU Member States; and signing Memoranda of
Understanding between the Republic of Moldova’s financial intelligence
authorities and EU Member States;

provide timely, relevant and precise
information about the state-of-play of the Republic of Moldova’s existing
legislation and its compliance with EU law, in line with the format
agreed between the parties, and submit a detailed action plan for implementing
EU law in line with the agreed timetable;

identify areas in which training,
capacity-building and expertise should be provided.

Industrial and enterprise policy

The parties will work together to improve
the business and regulatory environment in the Republic of Moldova, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including microenterprises.
This cooperation will include work to:

ensure that the Republic of Moldova participates in the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) Assessment, and implements its
recommendations;

ensure that the Republic of Moldova participates in related projects on strengthening SME competitiveness, such as the
Programme on Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME) and the Enterprise
Europe Network (EEN);

ensure that the Republic of Moldova takes into account the needs of the SME sector and related infrastructure and SME
competitiveness when designing and implementing future rural and/or regional
development programmes;

move forward on implementing the SME
Strategy 2012-20 (e.g. by further developing science and technology parks and
business incubators, as included in the Strategy) and the country’s Competitiveness Strategy, which is part of the
National Development Strategy ‘Moldova 2020’;

ensure that the Republic of Moldova actively participates in the SME panel and in related fora dealing with the development
and review of SME policy;

move forward with the creation and
implementation of a conceptual, legislative and operational framework
stimulating the development of SME clusters in the Republic of Moldova.

Mining and raw materials

The parties will work together to prepare for implementation of the future Association Agreement in the area
of mining and raw materials. This cooperation will include work to:

start a dialogue on the mining industries
and trade in raw materials;

work together on the safety and sustainable
development of the mining industries.

Tourism

The parties will work together to:

create a roadmap on strengthening the
development of a competitive and sustainable tourism industry and outlining the
steps needed to deepen the collaboration between the Republic of Moldova and the EU in the field of tourism;

continue to exchange best practices and
share knowledge, training and education in the field of tourism.

Agriculture and rural development

To prepare for implementation of EU law and
international instruments mentioned in annex
to the future Association Agreement, the parties will work together to:

develop and implement the policy, legal and
institutional framework (including food safety requirements and marketing
standards) in the area of agriculture and rural development;

develop and implement a new action plan to
bring the sector more in line with EU policies and legislation on agricultural
policy and rural development;

train central and local administrations on
rural development policies;

improve the competitiveness of agricultural
production and the diversification of economic
activities in rural areas;

strengthen the capacity of the Paying
Agency to ensure transparency, efficiency and predictability of disbursed state
aid;

improve the sustainable use of land and
water resources in the agri-food sector.

Regional development

The parties will work together to:

develop a legal and institutional framework
to carry out effective regional development policy in the Republic of Moldova, including in regions with special status;

strengthen the institutional and
operational capacity of national, regional and local institutions in the field
of regional development and territorial cohesion, including work on developing
an effective system of multi-level governance and a clear division of
responsibilities;

ensure even development of the entire
territory of the Republic of Moldova, based on the strategic approach set out
in the territorial planning documents and implemented through a territorial
operational programme, including the diversification of economic activity in
small towns and developing regions;

strengthen the social and technical
infrastructure in developing regions by implementing development projects based
on consistent and time-bound regional development strategies, taking into
account the need to support balanced territorial development across the entire
territory;

develop and implement a new action plan on
regional development policy based on an operational programme derived from the
national strategy of the ‘Moldova 2020’ agenda;

train central and local administrations on
good governance and the latest methodologies in urban and rural development
policy, including with regard to urban-rural interrelationships to support a
more balanced development of the country as a whole.

Fisheries and maritime policy

The parties will work together to:

step up cooperation and work towards
creating sustainable fisheries in the Black Sea, both in the context of
bilateral and multilateral frameworks, based on an ecosystem approach to
fisheries management;

increase scientific and technical
cooperation to ensure the capacity of monitoring fisheries and evaluating the
state of the stocks of marine resources and the marine environment;

foster an integrated approach to maritime
affairs, especially by looking into the possibility of setting up a national
contact point in the Republic of Moldova;

identify areas of common interest for
future Black Sea cooperation in the context of the EU Integrated Maritime
Policy.

Energy

The parties will work together to:

take steps towards integrating the Republic
of Moldova’s energy market with that of the EU, including by implementing the
‘third package’ on electricity and legal measures governing gas, taking
into account the Energy Community Ministerial Council’s decision on the timing
for unbundling in the gas sector, and by implementing the roadmap for improving
gas and electricity interconnections between the Republic of Moldova and
Romania, including extending the Iaşi-Ungheni gas pipeline to make it
possible to use it to deliver gas to the Republic of Moldova;

implement EU legislation on strategic
reserves of oil products and increasing power generation on the right bank of
the Nistru river, and further reduce transmission and distribution losses in
electricity, gas and heat networks;

implement national legislation on renewable
energy, to increase the share of renewable energy sources in total gross
consumption of energy to 17 % by 2020, and adopt and implement laws to
transpose the EU Directives on energy efficiency, especially on the energy
performance of buildings and on labelling and standard product information on
the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products.

Transport

The parties will work together to prepare
for implementation of EU law mentioned in the annexes to the
future Association Agreement and to support the Republic of Moldova. This cooperation will include work
to:

implement the newly developed,
comprehensive transport and logistics strategy for 2013-22;

bring in necessary reforms so that the Republic of Moldova can be removed from the black list of the Paris Memorandum of
Understanding;

prepare a reform and restructuring
programme for the railway sector;

step up efforts to implement the EU
aviation law in order to take full advantage of the Common Aviation Area
Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Moldova;

develop infrastructure, in particular by
implementing priority projects for the development of the Eastern Partnership
transport network, depending on bankable project proposals from international
financial institutions that are suitable for Neighbourhood Investment Facility
funding.

Environment

The parties will work together to prepare
for implementation of EU law and international standards, in particular to:

ensure that the Republic of Moldova adopts a national environmental strategy and an action plan to implement it;

adopt and implement national legislation
and designate competent authorities in the fields of environmental impact
assessment, strategic environmental assessment, waste and resource management,
water quality and management, air quality, nature protection, industrial
emissions and management of chemicals;

continue to implement multilateral
environmental agreements, in particular the Espoo, Aarhus and Rotterdam
Conventions;

develop an action plan to provide a roadmap
for the transposition, implementation and enforcement of the environmental
directives set out in the Association Agreement;

carry out the necessary institutional
reforms to implement new environmental laws and policy.

Climate action

The parties will work together to
strengthen dialogue and cooperation on climate change, to:

prepare and sign a new global agreement on
climate change;

set out a strategic plan and develop
measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change;

bring legislation in the Republic of Moldova more in line with applicable EU acts and international instruments.

Information society

The parties will work together to prepare
for the implementation of EU acquis mentioned in the annexes to the
future Association Agreement, in particular to:

bring the legislation in the field of
electronic communications more in line with EU law;

carry out activities to strengthen the
independence and administrative capacity of the national regulator in the
field of communications, in order to ensure its ability to take
appropriate regulatory measures and enforce its own decisions and all
applicable regulations and to guarantee fair competition in the markets;

strengthen the sector by exchanging
information and experience on the implementation of the Europe 2020 Initiative
‘The Digital Agenda for Europe’.

Public health

The parties will work together to:

support the Republic of Moldova in
preparing for the implementation of EU health law, as mentioned in the annexes
to the future Association Agreement, in particular concerning legislation in
the areas of tobacco control, quality and safety of substances of human origin
(blood tissues, organs, and cells) and communicable diseases;

exchange best practices in implementing the
Framework Convention for Tobacco Control and the International Health
Regulations;

strengthen preparedness, training and
epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, and hepatitis C and B, including
by interacting with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control;

support the Republic of Moldova’s participation in EU public-health-related networks and working parties, such as the
annual network meeting on health information and the HIV/AIDS Think Tank and
HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum meetings.

Civil protection

The parties will work together to:

ensure effective 24-hour-a-day
communication, including exchange of early warnings and information on
large-scale emergencies affecting the EU and the Republic of Moldova, as well as third countries in which either of the parties is involved in disaster
response;

facilitate mutual assistance in the event
of major emergencies, as appropriate and subject to the availability of
sufficient resources;

promote the adoption and implementation of
EU guidelines on host nation support;

improve the knowledge base on disaster
risks and economic losses by strengthening cooperation on data accessibility
and comparability;

progress with the development of a
country-wide disaster risk assessment and mapping, and support the development
of the Electronic Regional Risk Atlas (ERRA) and ensure its effective use at
national level;

improve prevention of industrial or
‘natech’ (natural and technological) disasters;

start a dialogue on the policy aspects of
disaster prevention, preparedness and response by exchanging best practices,
organising joint trainings, exercises, study visits and workshops, and
summarising lessons learnt in real emergency operations and exercises;

continue to develop prevention activities,
by educating, training and informing the general population, in particular
young people, in the field of fire protection.

Education, training, and youth

The parties will work together on the
overall modernisation and reform of the education, training and youth systems
in the Republic of Moldova. This cooperation will include work to:

carry out joint activities and exchanges
that further promote the Republic of Moldova’s integration into the European
Higher Education Area, in the context of its membership in the Bologna process,
including by reforming the third cycle (doctoral education) and setting up a
National Agency for Quality Assurance and increasing mobility opportunities for
students and university staff;

develop a national qualification framework
to improve transparency and recognition of qualifications and competences;

promote academic cooperation, capacity
building and student and staff mobility through the new Erasmus+ programme and
researchers’ mobility and training Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions;

implement and support a strategic approach
to vocational education and training (VET) with a view to bringing the Republic of Moldova’s VET system in line with the modernisation of EU VET structures, as
pursued through the Copenhagen Process and its instruments;

encourage a strategic approach to youth
policy and improve exchanges and cooperation in the field of non-formal
education for young people and youth workers, as a means of promoting
intercultural dialogue and supporting civil society, including through EU
programmes in the youth field.

Research and innovation

The parties will work together to:

facilitate the Republic of Moldova’s integration in the European Research Area (ERA);

enhance the Republic of Moldova’s participation in the Horizon 2020 programme;

move forward on implementing the Innovation
Strategy 2013-20, ‘Innovation for Competitiveness’;

reinforce human, material and institutional
resources in order to improve research and innovation capacities;

reinforce the Republic of Moldova’s participation in Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions.

Culture, audiovisual policy and media

Culture

The parties will work together to:

promote implementation of the 2005 UNESCO
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions;

cooperate on developing an inclusive
cultural policy in the Republic of Moldova and on preserving and promoting
cultural and natural heritage;

strengthen capacities for developing
cultural entrepreneurship in the creative and cultural industries and cultural
heritage;

promote the participation of cultural
actors from the Republic of Moldova in cultural cooperation programmes,
including Creative Europe.

Audiovisual policy and media

The parties will work together to prepare
for implementation of EU law
mentioned in the annexes to the future Association Agreement. This cooperation
will include support for the Republic of Moldova to:

work towards adopting audiovisual
legislation in compliance with European standards, including by exchanging
views on audiovisual policy, applicable international standards including
cooperation in the fight against racism, and xenophobia;

strengthen the capacity and independence of
regulatory authorities/bodies for the media and in particular work
towards the full independence of the Audiovisual Coordination Council;

amend legislation in order to guarantee
that public financial assistance for the media is allocated according to strict
objective criteria equally applicable to all media.

Participation in EU agencies and
programmes

Together with the European Commission,
explore possibilities to participate in selected EU programmes and activities
of the EU agencies focused on the ENP countries.

2.5       Trade and trade related
matters (DCFTA)

Trade in goods

The parties will work together to prepare
the correct implementation of the provisions on market access for goods,
including energy, of the future Association Agreement, in particular through
joint consultations, to:

increase the Republic of Moldova’s export capacity;

make further improvements in the area of
trade statistics in order for the parties to correctly apply the
anti-circumvention mechanism;

ensure that there is no increase to the
currently-applicable import duties in the run-up to the Agreement’s entry into
force (standstill);

ensure the quality of legislation that the Republic of Moldova may prepare on market access or other related issues;

cooperate on implementing the roadmap for
improving the Republic of Moldova’s competitiveness;

exchange information on
market-access-related developments in the Republic of Moldova and its policy on
market access.

Technical regulations, standardisation
and related infrastructure

The parties will work together on
preparations for achieving compliance with EU technical regulations,
standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment procedures and
the market surveillance system as provided for in the future Association
Agreement.

The preparations will include work to:

exchange information on developing and
enforcing legislation, which the Republic of Moldova committed to implement
before the future Association Agreement enters into force, as specified in
annex to the Agreement, and in line with EU law;

develop infrastructure related to the
administration of technical regulations, standardisation, metrology,
accreditation, conformity assessment procedures and the market surveillance
system, including creation of a national information system;

provide further staff training on
administration in the responsible government bodies and agencies;

exchange information on other relevant
aspects of the Republic of Moldova’s plans in the area of technical barriers to
trade, and the applicable timeframes;

cooperate in the preparatory process for
the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products
(ACAA).

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)
measures

The parties will work together to prepare
the Republic of Moldova to bring its sanitary and phytosanitary standards for
food and feed, plant health, and animal health and welfare legislation and
practice closer in line with those of the EU, as set out in the annexes to the
future Association Agreement. This cooperation will include work to:

complete implementation of the Republic of Moldova’s current Food Safety Strategy, with a particular
focus on the quality of legislation and enforcement capacity, and address any
identified shortcomings;

set up sectoral priorities for the Republic of Moldova, to bring standards more in line with EU legislation in economically-relevant
sectors of its agriculture, and to cover all areas specified in the annexes to
the future Association Agreement;

strengthen administrative capacity by
training staff in responsible governmental and executive bodies and agencies to
prepare and implement legislation in line with EU law;

further improve infrastructure and related
capacity necessary to implement the legislation, in particular animal health,
plant health, food safety laboratories and Border Inspection Posts, in line
with EU requirements;

work to set up an early warning system for
food and feed, animal health and plant health safety;

organise information campaigns with related
agencies, businesses and NGOs on the requirements for accessing the EU market,
and with civil society on the consumer aspects of food and feed safety.

Customs and trade facilitation

The parties will work together to prepare
the Republic of Moldova for bringing its legislation more in line with EU law and the international standards listed in annex to the future Association Agreement. This cooperation will
include work to:

continue implementation of the strategic
framework for customs cooperation;

align the Republic of Moldova’s Authorised
Economic Operator system to that of the EU, with the prospect of mutual
recognition;

continue to modernise the Republic of Moldova’s customs service, and its infrastructure, and to organise staff training;

continue to simplify and modernise customs
administrative procedures;

draw up a roadmap for the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the Convention on Common Transit Procedure;

cooperate on risk-based customs control and
sharing of relevant information that contributes to improved risk management
and security of the supply chains, facilitation of legitimate trade and safety
and security of goods imported, exported or in transit;

step up dialogue on the fight against fraud
to prevent illegal trade, including in excisable products, in particular
through enhanced cooperation under the Protocol on Mutual Administrative
Assistance in Customs Matters;

align the Republic of Moldova’s legislation
on customs enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to EU law.

Rules of origin

The parties will work together to prepare
for implementation of rules of origin to be applicable under the relevant
protocol to the future Association Agreement. This cooperation will include
work to:

help the Republic of Moldova in its
accession to the regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential
rules of origin;

provide training on certification and
verification of preferential origin to the Republic of Moldova’s customs
service;

discuss and, if necessary, review the
current procedures applied by the Republic of Moldova’s customs service in
certifying and verifying the origin of goods.

Establishment, trade in services and
electronic commerce

The parties will continue their dialogue on establishment, trade in services and electronic
commerce according to the provisions specified in the future Association
Agreement. They will prepare for the implementation of commitments made in the
services areas, as envisaged in the annexes to the future Association
Agreement. This cooperation will include work to:

provide training and sufficient
administrative capacity to cope with the planned approximation of legislation;

discuss the areas in which such training,
capacity-building and expertise should be provided;

ensure regular exchange of information on
the envisaged or ongoing legislative work in areas selected for approximation
and conduct dialogue for this purpose.

Current payments and movement of capital

The parties will continue their dialogue on
capital movements and payments, in particular with a view to monitoring
compliance with all existing commitments and preparing for implementation of
the future Association Agreement.

Public procurement

The parties will work together on the Republic of Moldova’s preparations for implementation of the Procurement Chapter of the
future Association Agreement and the related reforms. This
cooperation will include work to:

develop the necessary competences and
administrative capacity in the bodies responsible for overseeing the
implementation of procurement policy to bring legislation more in line with EU
law;

start preparing the Republic of Moldova’s public procurement strategy;

ensure that the independent review body has
sufficient administrative capacity to provide effective remedies in line with
Directives 89/665 and 92/13, as amended by Directive 2007/66;

provide precise and timely information on
developments in the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, in particular for
planned legislative work affecting procurement policy and enforcement.

Intellectual property rights (IPR)

The parties will work together to prepare
to bring legislation in the Republic of Moldova more in line with EU law and
international standards on the protection of intellectual property rights, as
specified in the future Association Agreement. This cooperation will include
work to:

ensure that right holders from both parties
have an adequate and effective level of protection of their IPR and that
adequate measures are in place to enforce these rights;

strengthen the enforcement capacity of the
responsible governmental bodies and executive agencies, including the Republic of Moldova’s customs service, and regularly report on the situation of
administrative capacity;

ensure the proper functioning of the
judicial system to guarantee access to justice for right holders and the
availability and effective implementation of penalties;

consolidate the relevant institutional
structures, as well as the offices for industrial property rights, copyright
protection and collecting societies; strengthen cooperation with third-country
authorities and industry associations;

take measures to increase public awareness
in the field of intellectual property protection and ensure effective dialogue
with rights holders;

prepare an action plan for implementation
of EU law and relevant standards in this area, and develop monitoring tools for
the implementation and enforcement of IPR to be applied under the future
Association Agreement;

implement the standards embedded in
the Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC and Regulation (EU) No 608/2013
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 concerning
customs enforcement of intellectual property rights;

take effective measures against
counterfeiting and piracy and ensure effective implementation of the
enforcement legislation and of penalties for infringing intellectual property
rights on the basis of the IPR National Strategy up to 2020, and produce
regular reports based on tangible and measurable targets and data.

Competition

The parties will work together to prepare
the implementation of the competition chapter of the future Association
Agreement and the related reforms. This cooperation will include work to:

ensure that the Republic of Moldova’s institutional framework and its administrative capacity guarantee the effective
implementation of the competition legislation;

strengthen dialogue on the experience of enforcing
legislation in this area, as well as on other legislative developments related
to competition, including by providing training for the authorities and ad-hoc
expert advice on the general enforcement of state aid rules.

Transparency

The parties will pay special attention to
work that aims to:

prepare for implementing the commitments on
transparency in trade-related policy-making and consider the necessary
mechanisms that may need to be put in place in to do this;

discuss best practices and experiences of
transparent policy-making;

exchange information and provide relevant
training, including on communication mechanisms and stakeholder consultations;

conduct seminars and other events for the
wider public, aimed at explaining the implementation of the future Association
Agreement and the approximation process.

Trade and sustainable development

The parties will engage in a dialogue on
the issues covered by the chapter on trade and sustainable development of the
future Association Agreement. This will include work to:

exchange information on the implementation
of the relevant domestic policy framework or of international commitments
related to sustainable development;

discuss the future implementation of
commitments under this chapter with regard to stakeholder involvement and civil
society dialogue;

exchange best practices and relevant
experience.

The parties will bear in mind that the
priorities relating to trade unions’ rights and core labour standards in
section 2.1 and the first priority identified in section 2.6 are highly
relevant for implementation of the ‘Trade and Sustainable Development’ chapter,
and should therefore be addressed in relation to this part of the Association
Agreement.

[1]               Action Plan to support democratic reforms in the Republic of Moldova 2013-16, 20 November 2013.

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