The Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova was signed in June 2014 and has been in full effect since July 2016.

Since the Agreement's provisional application since September 2014 Moldova has benefitted from a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU.

Trade agreements with Georgia and Moldova – evaluation

This preferential trade system has allowed Moldova to benefit from reduced or eliminated tariffs for its goods, an increased services market and better investment conditions.

The Priority Action Plan (PAP) (see infographic) for enhanced cooperation of the EU-Moldova DCFTA in 2023-2024 lays down a set of concrete actions to accelerate and monitor the full implementation of the DCFTA, providing Moldova with further access to the EU Single Market.

Trade picture

• The European Union is Moldova's biggest trade partner, accounting for 49.3% of its total trade in 2022, followed by Ukraine (12.3%) and Russia (10.8%). 58.7% of Moldovan exports are destined for the EU market.
• Moldova ranks 65^th among the EU's trade partners, with a total turnover of around €7.2 billion in 2022.
• The EU's exports to Moldova amounted in 2022 to €4.7 billion, an increase of about 23% from 2021. Key EU exports are machinery and appliances, and products of the chemical or related industry.
• The EU's imports from Moldova increased by 14% from 2021-2022, from €1.83 billion in 2021 to €2.56 billion in 2022, showing growth after small decreases in the previous two years. The main EU imports from Moldova are mineral products, and machinery and appliances.

The EU and Moldova

EU-Moldova trade relations are determined by the free trade area set up by the DCFTA part of the Association Agreement.

The DCFTA sets up a free-trade area between the EU and Moldova in line with the principles of the World Trade Organisation.

The DCFTA allows for:

• The removal of import duties for most goods traded between the EU and Moldova
• Provides for broad mutual access to trade in services for both partners
• Both EU and Moldovan companies can create a subsidiary or a branch office on a non-discriminatory basis. This means they receive the same treatment as domestic companies in the partner's market when setting up a business.

An important part of the DCFTA is aligning Moldovan trade-related laws to selected EU legislative acts. The aim of Moldova's adoption of EU approaches to policy-making is to improve governance, strengthen the rule of law and provide more economic opportunities by widening the EU market to Moldovan goods and services.

Temporary measures in support of Moldovan exports to the EU

The EU has adopted a regulation which provides temporary full trade liberalisation for Moldovan agricultural products for one year. The measures will be in force until 24 July 2024.  

The regulation is just one of the measures adopted by the EU as part of its solidarity with the region in the context of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

More information: Monitoring data on imports from Moldova into the EU subject to trade liberalisation measures

Moldova and European Neighbourhood Policy

Moldova is a partner country of the Eastern Partnership within the European Neighbourhood Policy. In 2014, the EU and Moldova agreed an Association Agenda, which will be soon replaced by a new Agenda. The Agenda outlines the priorities for reform in Moldova and is based on the commitments included in the 2014 Association Agreement. The reform progress in Moldova is documented by the EU in the annual implementation reports.

Committees and Dialogues

The EU and Moldova meet regularly to discuss issues and best practices and oversee the proper functioning of the Agreement.

Technical committee meetings - agendas and reports

Trading with Moldova

• Importing into the EU from Moldova
  • EU trade defence measures on imports from Moldova
  • Monitoring data on imports from Moldova into the EU subject to trade liberalisation measures
• Exporting from the EU to Moldova
  • Trade defence measures in force in Moldova
• Trade relations are part of the EU's overall political and economic relations with Moldova
• Moldova is a member of the World Trade Organization
• Trade SIA in support of negotiations of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between the EU and respectively Georgia and Moldova