Soon more plums, grapes, and other agricultural products from Moldavia will enter European markets tariff-free. The European Commission will enable improved market access for Moldavian products that are still subject to EU tariff contingents. The exemption matches one previously granted to Ukraine.
Brussels aims to help Moldavia cope with the economic consequences of Russia's war against neighboring Ukraine. Moldavia is located on the northeastern side of the Balkans. Since the country’s independence in the early 1990s, an eastern strip of the country (Transnistria) in the border region with Ukraine has been occupied by Russian troops.
Some observers fear that after possibly capturing the southern coast of Ukraine, Russia intends to make a further military leap towards Western Europe via Transnistria and Moldavia.
Moldavia has already benefited for several years from an association agreement with the EU, but this did not apply so far to seven agricultural products. The proposed measures cover plums, table grapes, apples, tomatoes, garlic, cherries, and grape juice.
The regulation doubles EU imports — for the duration of one year — of these products. The potential tariff-free volumes will now be worth approximately €55 million, including about €10 million in plums and €27 million in table grapes.
Together with improved access to road transport in the EU (currently under negotiation between Moldavia and the EU), this liberalization should facilitate the export of Moldavian products to and through the EU.
Additionally, the EU is open to discussions on further mutual liberalization, which would bring the EU and Moldavia a step closer to full trade liberalization again.
The proposal now needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, likely already in July.