The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union has approved a mandate for negotiations on extending the "trade visa-free regime" with Ukraine and Moldova.
This information was reported by the European Council's website.
"The ambassadors of the EU member states agreed today on the Council’s negotiating mandate on two legislative proposals which aim to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian and Moldovan exports to the EU for another year," the European Council document states.
Specifically, the proposals include extending the suspension of tariffs and quotas on imports from Ukraine to the EU for another year, from June 6, 2024, to June 5, 2025.
At the same time, the proposals aim to strengthen protection in trade in "sensitive" agricultural products by enhancing protective measures already included in existing regulatory rules (EU Document 2023/1077) and introducing new measures for certain "sensitive" goods.
The proposal for autonomous trade measures for Moldova aims to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas for another year, from July 25, 2024, to July 24, 2025, while strengthening protection for "sensitive" agricultural products.
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine also continues to have a negative impact on Moldova’s ability to trade with the rest of the world. The renewal of these measures will help to maintain the conditions necessary to enable Moldova continue its trade relations with the EU and with the rest of the world via the EU.
