Autonomous trade preferences for Moldova

PURPOSE: to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 introducing autonomous trade preferences for the Republic of Moldova.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) No 581/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 introducing autonomous trade preferences for the Republic of Moldova.

CONTENT: Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 entered into force on 31 January 2008 and has been applied since 1 March 2008. That Regulation introduces a specific scheme of autonomous trade preferences (ATPs) for the Republic of Moldova. It gives all products originating in Moldova free access to the Union market, except for certain agricultural products listed in its Annex I, for which limited concessions have been given either in the form of exemption from customs duties within the limit of tariff quotas or in the form of a reduction of customs duties.

Every year since the application of Regulation (EC) No 55/2008, the tariff quota for wine was fully used months before the end of the year.

In order to support Moldova’s efforts, in line with the ENP and the Eastern Partnership, and to provide an attractive and reliable market for Moldova’s wine exports, it is proposed to increase the existing tariff quota for wine :

• for the year 2011 from 100 000 hectolitres to 150 000 hectolitres,
• for the year 2012 from 120 000 hectolitres to 180 000 hectolitres,
• and from the year 2013 onwards to 240 000 hectolitres per year.

As Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 expires on 31 December 2012, and as it is important to ensure legal certainty for producers, exporters and importers, it is proposed to extend the validity of Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 for another three years to 31 December 2015.

In the light of the experience gained under the present ATP scheme, and in order to support further the development of Moldova’s economy and the process of regulatory approximation leading to convergence with Union laws and standards in the context of the Eastern Partnership, it is appropriate to review the level of tariff quotas of some products covered by the present ATPs.

In order to ensure compliance with the Union’s international obligations, the preferences contained in this Regulation should be made conditional on the continuation or renewal of the existing waiver from World Trade Organization obligations obtained by the Union.

The preferences provided for in this Regulation shall cease to apply, in whole or in part, should they not be permitted, in whole or in part, by a waiver granted by the World Trade Organization. Those preferences shall cease to apply from the day on which the waiver is no longer in effect. The Commission shall, sufficiently prior to that date, publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union to inform operators and the competent authorities thereof. The notice shall specify which preferences provided for by this Regulation will no longer apply and the date on which they cease to apply.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 July 2011.