Moldovan deputy PM says signing of Association Agreement with EU major step in rapprochement with Europe

Chisinau, 27 June /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova today marks ten years since the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union. ‘’On this period, we have benefited from significant financial support on behalf of EU, which helps for the country’s modernization and improvement of the people’s living standards,’’ Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov said.  
The official stressed that this major step of rapprochement with Europe had brought, in the next decade, numerous advantages to Moldova and each citizen individually.  
„Moldova is integrating into the European economic area – due to the deep and comprehensive free trade, over two thirds of the exports are oriented to EU. The diversity and quality of the Moldovan products has been enhanced, which boosted the economy. In the last years, ever more products – our plums, grapes and sweet cherries – have reached tables of citizens from the European Union. Moldova started the process of accession of the Moldovan banks to the Single European Payments Area (SEPA). Soon, no taxes will be collected for interbank transfers made by citizens and entrepreneurs of Moldova and the EU countries,’’ Cristina Gherasimov said.       
The deputy prime minister noted that Moldova was integrated into the Energy market and the European transport infrastructure. ‘’We purchase natural gas at advantageous prices along with other European countries. We build new high-tension power lines which are to give sure access to electric energy from EU at competitive prices.  Moldova is integrating into the European transport infrastructure – bridges, roads are constructed, railways are rehabilitated. We communicate by phone and navigate on the Internet easier and cheaper in roaming,’’ the official also said.   
Following the signing of the Association Agreement, Moldova will participate in most EU programmes, such as: EU Customs, Fiscalis, LIFE, EU4Health, Horizon Europe and Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).   
„Moldova benefited from significant financial support on behalf of EU, which helps modernize the country and improve the citizens’ living standards. The educational programmes, such as Erasmus+, provided young people with opportunities of education and personal development at the best universities of Europe. The civil society had more sources to more actively get involved in the public life,’’ Cristina Gherasimov specified.  
The Moldova-EU Association Agreement was signed on 27 June 2014 and was ratified in the Moldovan parliament’s plenum on 2 July 2024. The European Parliament ratified the Association Agreement at the plenary meeting on 13 November 2014; as many as 535 MEPs voted for the document’s ratification, 94 European lawmakers voted against and 44 MPs abstained.