OREANDA-NEWS. October 27, 2015. Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet today had a meeting with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, after which the two officials held a joint news conference.

Prime Minister Strelet said that, by signing the Association Agreement with the European Union, an irreversible process had been set working. He also said this would ensure Moldova's development and modernisation, no matter the developments in the political, social or economic areas.   

"Analysing the situation in the country, as well as in the region, we may say for sure that it was very important for Moldova that we managed to enforce the Association Agreement including the component in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), starting from 1 September 2014, despite multiple challenges, both political and technical," the prime minister said. 

At the meeting, Prime Minister Strelet and EU Commissioner Malmstrom assessed the results achieved in the first year of implementing the DCFTA accord, and considered priorities for the next period. 

The Moldovan prime minister stressed that the European Union had become the principal trade partner of Moldova, with the exports going to EU countries accounting for 62 per cent of the total volume. Highlighting the potential of development of the commercial ties with the European partners, Valeriu Strelet said that, on the immediately next period, the cabinet would focus on turning to good account opportunities offered by DCFTA and facilitating access of Moldovan goods and services to the EU market, as well as enhancing their competitiveness. 

"A priority is extending the categories of animal origin goods that may be exported to the EU market. Presently, we export only honey and caviar, but we work also to get the right to export fowl and eggs, eventually in 2016," the prime minister  specified. 

For her part, Cecilia Malmstrom confirmed that the DCFTA enforcement in Moldova had already yielded positive results. At the same time, the EU official encouraged the Moldovan officials to continue reforms, so that the country fully benefits from the DCFTA's opportunities. "We contribute to improving the business climate with new technologies, that will help to economy's growth and to create new jobs in Moldova. We have hundreds of millions of euros available to finance, as well as provide technical assistance to small and medium-sized companies from Moldova, in order to facilitate their access to the EU market," Cecilia Malmstrom said. 

Cecilia Malmstrom is is her first visit to Moldova as European Commissioner for Trade.