European Parliament to vote on future of EU-Moldova agreement

STRASBOURG, September 15 (Itar-Tass) - The European Parliament will
hold the final vote on a resolution on the future of the EU-Republic of
Moldova Association Agreement on the final day of its plenary session on
Thursday.
In the draft of recommendations the highest legislative body of the
European Union urges the European Commissions to begin talks with Moldova
on a number of issues, including the introduction of a free trade zone in
order to assist the Republic's full political and economic integration
with the European Union. This will also attract more investments and will
make the Moldovan economy more competitive.
However, the European Parliament notes that Moldova should first
demonstrate its ability to adapt its legal and economic structures to
European standards.
Strasbourg welcomed Moldova's stable and gradual movement towards the
Association Agreement in various spheres, including politics and security,
energy cooperation and observation of human rights.
The first round of negotiations for the EU-Republic of Moldova
Association Agreement was held in Chisinau in mid-January 2010. Prior to
signing the agreement, Brussels and Chisinau should reach a final
agreement on all the stipulations: the economic bloc and a free trade zone
and the political bloc, which concerns issues related to a visa-free
travel regime and improvement of the national legislation.