EU/Euratom/Moldova Association Agreement: implementing the safeguard clause and anti-circumvention mechanism

The European Parliament adopted by 577 votes to 11, with 52 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing the safeguard clause and the anti-circumvention mechanism providing for the temporary suspension of tariff preferences of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part.

Parliament’s position, adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure, amended the Commission proposal regarding two issues:

Imposition of definitive safeguard measures: the Commission shall invite the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to hold consultations in accordance with Article 160(2) of the Agreement. Where no satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days, the Commission may adopt, by means of implementing acts, definitive safeguard measures.

Report: the amended text obliges the Commission to include in its annual report on the application and implementation of this Regulation information about the application of provisional and definitive safeguard measures, as well as the application of the anti-circumvention mechanism.