Commissioner Dacian Cioloş in the Republic of Moldova
Commissioner Dacian Cioloş, will be in the Republic of Moldova on 11 and 12 October 2013 at the invitation of the Government in Chișinău.
On October 11, Commissioner Dacian Cioloș will have bilateral meetings in Chișinău with the President of the Republic of Moldova Nicolae Timofti, with Prime Minister Iurie Leancă, with the Speaker of the Parliament Igor Corman and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov.
On October 12, the Commissioner will visit a wine company in the village of Puhoi, Ialoveni and will meet the members of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Grapes. He will also have an informal meeting with Cabinet ministers on agriculture and rural development strategy.
The visit takes place in the context of the Republic of Moldova's preparation for the initialling of the Association Agreement with the European Union, foreseen to take place at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in November 2013. The Association Agreement foresees the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), thus fostering the economic integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU.
"Bringing the Republic of Moldova closer to the European Union, through its accession to the European market, will not only create jobs but also improve citizens' life. With the conclusion of the Association Agreement, the Republic of Moldova will have real opportunities for economic development through unrestricted access to a market of more than half a billion consumers", stated European commissioner Dacian Cioloş before the visit to Chișinău.
At the beginning of October, as a measure to compensate for the difficulties the Republic of Moldova is facing with its wine exports to some of its traditional markets, the European Commission proposed to the Council and the European Parliament to fully open the European Union's market to wine imports from the Republic of Moldova, in advance of the envisaged application of the EU - Republic of Moldova Association Agreement and the related Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA),
Another topic to be addressed during the meetings with the authorities in Chișinău is the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture & Rural Development (ENPARD). ENPARD is a new policy initiative, part of the EU's commitment to growth and stability in its neighbourhood, which recognizes the importance of agriculture for food security, sustainable development and job creation in rural areas.
