OREANDA-NEWS. Fruit producers will receive EU assistance in applying marketing standards and ecological certification, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos today said in Costesti, Ialoveni district. The EU official along with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca met members of the local Association of Table Grape Producers and Exporters (ATGPE).

Attending the event were also Agriculture and Food Minister Vasile Bumacov and Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola.

The discussions focused on the need to introduce the flat tax in agriculture and opening the European market. The producers asked the prime minister to take all measures for the Moldovan products to freely enter the EU market.

The prime minister said the Moldovan exports to the European Union represented the government's priority and the visit by the Commissioner fit in this context.

“The objectives of the Commissioner visit represent, inter alia, consultations on getting the support of the European Union and the European Investment Bank in product standardization sector, respectively, in accessing funds. We will do our utmost to establish direct contact with potential buyers”, said Iurie Leanca.

The association members said that the greatest difficulty in accessing foreign markets is the inability of packing products.

In this respect, Dacian Ciolos said that training programs on marketing standards would be developed, so that this problem be overcome as soon as possible.

“You have a very good chance in terms of the table grapes export to the EU market. You have no problems with the food safety standards. You only need to comply with the marketing standards”, said Dacian Ciolos.

The Commissioner welcomed the producers' initiative to associate, which enhances the possibility to get funds and technical support from donors and urged the association members to cultivate also certified ecologically safe products.

“The European consumers' demand for certified ecologically safe products exceeds production. If you try to focus on this field, I promise to support you, at least, to get certification. Also, we can find solutions to finance this, at least for the first three years,” said Dacian Ciolos.

The members of the Association were advised to specialise in growing products popular among European consumers, which do not cover the consumers demand on the European market.

Also today, the European Commissioner informally met with members of the Cabinet.

In late last September, at an initiative by Dacian Ciolos, the European Commission proposed to the European Council and Parliament to fully open the EU market for Moldovan wines before the entering into force of the Association Agreement, including the Free Trade Agreement. In context, the European Commission will ask the Council and Parliament to do their utmost, so that this proposal be quickly adopted.