What changed

PR_COD_1app

P9_TA(2024)0155

Symbols for procedures

Temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to Moldovan products under the EU/Euratom/Moldova Association Agreement

* Consultation procedure

Committee on International Trade

*** Consent procedure

PE759.004

***I Ordinary legislative procedure (first reading)

European Parliament legislative resolution of 13 March 2024 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under 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 (COM(2024)0051 – C9-0022/2024 – 2024/0029(COD))

***II Ordinary legislative procedure (second reading)

***III Ordinary legislative procedure (third reading)

(The type of procedure depends on the legal basis proposed by the draft act.)

Amendments to a draft act

Amendments by Parliament set out in two columns

Deletions are indicated in bold italics in the left-hand column. Replacements are indicated in bold italics in both columns. New text is indicated in bold italics in the right-hand column.

The first and second lines of the header of each amendment identify the relevant part of the draft act under consideration. If an amendment pertains to an existing act that the draft act is seeking to amend, the amendment heading includes a third line identifying the existing act and a fourth line identifying the provision in that act that Parliament wishes to amend.

Amendments by Parliament in the form of a consolidated text

New text is highlighted in bold italics. Deletions are indicated using either the ▌symbol or strikeout. Replacements are indicated by highlighting the new text in bold italics and by deleting or striking out the text that has been replaced.

By way of exception, purely technical changes made by the drafting departments in preparing the final text are not highlighted.

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under 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

(COM(2024)0051 – C90022/2024 – 2024/0029(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 8 March 2024 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A9-0079/2024),

1. Adopts its position at first reading, taking overreading thehereinafter Commissionset proposal;out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

P9_TC1-COD(2024)0029

The illegal and unjustified Russian military aggression against Ukraine has negatively impacted the Republic of Moldova and its ability to sell its products beyond its borders, as Moldova relied heavily on Ukrainian transit routes and infrastructure for its own exports.

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 13 March 2024 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under 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

In this context, in 2022, the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2022/1279, which puts in place temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from Moldova under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. This regulation has allowed Moldova to redirect some of its trade with the rest of the world via the EU, as well as to deepen its trade relations with the EU and to stabilise its economy. The trade-liberalisation measures were extended by one year in July 2023.

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1501.)

The present legislative proposal aims to once again renew these trade-liberalisation measures for a period of one year as of the date on which the current measures expire (i.e., as of 25 July 2024). Under the proposed regulation, all outstanding tariffs under Title V of the Association Agreement will be suspended. This concerns fruits and vegetables subject to the entry-price system and tariff-rate quotas, namely tomatoes, garlic, table grapes, apples, cherries, plums and grape juice. Most Moldovan exports already benefit from duty-free access to the EU market under the Association Agreement. Therefore, the quantities and range of products covered by the present proposal are relatively small.

The proposal introduces a strengthened safeguard mechanism to prevent and counteract adverse market effects in the EU Member States. The Commission can take any necessary measures, including the reintroduction of customs duties if it finds that imports of a specific product covered by this regulation leads to market disturbances in the EU or any of its Member States. The Commission will regularly monitor the impact of the trade-liberalisation measures in terms of import volumes and prices.

In the light of the strengthening of safeguard measures and the expansion of adverse effect from the Union market to one or several Member States, the Rapporteur underlines that any measures resulting by this regulation should be considered as exceptional and should not establish a precedent for the future of temporary trade liberalisation.

The proposed temporary trade-liberalisation measures will facilitate and support the existing trade flows from Moldova to the Union and help Moldova’s economy. They are also in line with the main objectives of the Association Agreement, namely to establish the conditions for enhancing economic and trade relations leading toward Moldova’s gradual integration into the EU internal market and contributing to the strengthening of democracy and political, economic, and institutional stability in Moldova, which has been an EU candidate country since 2022.

Given the continued hardship the Moldovan people have experienced as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it is vital that the EU continue supporting Moldova both economically and politically. Therefore, the rapporteur anticipates adopting this proposal in a swift manner ahead of the expiry of the existing trade-liberalisation measures.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that she has received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, until the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

Government of the Czech Republic - section for European Affairs

CIUS

Copa & Cogeca

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

27.2.2024

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Mr Bernd Lange

Chair of the Committee on International Trade

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under 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 (COM2024/0051 – C90022/2024 – 2024/0029(COD))

Dear Chair,

I refer to the Commission proposal for extending temporary trade liberalisation measures applicable to Moldovan products [2024/0029 (COD)].

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development considered the matter at its meeting of 26 February.

The Committee agreed with the proposed extension of temporary measures, and asked me to convey its opinion to you pursuant to Rule 56.

Yours sincerely,

Norbert Lins

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title

Temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under 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

References

COM(2024)0051 – C9-0022/2024 – 2024/0029(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

1.2.2024

Committee responsible

Date announced in plenary

INTA

26.2.2024

Committees asked for opinions

Date announced in plenary

BUDG

26.2.2024

AGRI

26.2.2024

Not delivering opinions

Date of decision

BUDG

21.2.2024

Rapporteurs

Date appointed

Markéta Gregorová

24.1.2024

Discussed in committee

19.2.2024

Date adopted

7.3.2024

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

28

2

6

Members present for the final vote

Barry Andrews, Geert Bourgeois, Saskia Bricmont, Jordi Cañas, Danuta Maria Hübner, Karin Karlsbro, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Danilo Oscar Lancini, Bernd Lange, Thierry Mariani, Margarida Marques, Emmanuel Maurel, Samira Rafaela, Catharina Rinzema, Inma Rodríguez-Piñero, Helmut Scholz, Kathleen Van Brempt, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Jörgen Warborn, Jan Zahradil

Substitutes present for the final vote

Marek Belka, Anna Cavazzini, José Manuel García-Margallo y Marfil, Enikő Győri, Cristina Maestre Martín De Almagro, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Manuela Ripa, Witold Jan Waszczykowski

Substitutes under Rule 209(7) present for the final vote

Andrea Bocskor, Paola Ghidoni, Ivo Hristov, Virginie Joron, Ska Keller, Dace Melbārde, Wolfram Pirchner, Aušra Seibutytė

Date tabled

8.3.2024

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

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