On November 29, the first in the last four years meeting of the Russian-Moldovan intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation was held in Moscow, the Russian media outlet Kommersant reported.
The Russian side was headed by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, while Moldova was represented by Deputy Chairman of the Government, Minister of Economy Octavian Calmic.
Calmic commented on the outcome of negotiations with obvious pleasure, noting that the work had been successful for both parties. "The talks were positive and constructive," he said.
The parties agreed on and approved a document entitled "Action Plan for the development of Russian-Moldovan trade and economic relations for 2016-2017." Rogozin confirmed its approval on Twitter.
"Action Plan for the normalization of economic relations with Moldova has been agreed. But the main issue on duties has not yet resolved," he tweeted. Later, he added: "Chisinau is still naively hoping that the EU will solve all its problems. And we are confident that it will not solve and is not going to solve them." Such a comment of the Russian co-chair of the commission counterbalanced the enthusiastic statement made by Octavian Calmic, though an agreed action plan says that Moldova has grounds to triumph.
Read alsoPutin invites new Moldovan president to MoscowThe first item of the document stipulates: "Reducing trade barriers in the Russian-Moldovan trade and economic relations in the conditions of Moldova's simultaneous participation in a free trade regime with the EU and the CIS." Almost half of the fifteen-page document is devoted to the implementation of this task.
As reported earlier, the talks between Chisinau and the EU to establish a free trade area, which ahd been successfully completed in 2014, were a cause for Moscow's dissatisfaction and the subsequent alignment of barriers to Moldova's exports of wine, fruits and vegetables to Russia. From now on, according to the document approved by the parties, Moscow is no longer concerned about the intention of Chisinau to be part of both trade regimes at the same time.
Read alsoPro-Kremlin tilt of Ukraine’s neighborsAccording to the plan, reduced trade barriers will require the parties to keep regular contacts in the framework of the intergovernmental commission, participation of the representatives of Gagauzia and Transnistria in its work, coherent policy in the field of standardization, metrology, certification and phytosanitary control. In addition, the Moldovan side has agreed to provide a "non-worsening access for Russian agricultural and food products on the Moldovan market" in terms of harmonization of Moldovan legislation with European standards.