the institutional and functional development of public authorities, in order to increase the efficiency of their activity and to ensure an efficient, participatory and transparent decision-making and strategic planning process;

modernisation of public services, including the introduction and implementation of e-Governance, with a view to increasing the efficiency of service delivery to citizens and reducing the costs of doing business;

creation of a professional civil service based on the principle of managerial accountability and effective delegation of authority, as well as fair and transparent recruitment, training, assessment and remuneration;

effective and professional human resource management and career development; and

the promotion of ethical values in the civil service.

poverty reduction and the enhancement of social cohesion;

employment policy, aiming at more and better jobs with decent working conditions, including with a view to reducing the informal economy and informal employment;

promoting active labour market measures and efficient employment services to modernise the labour markets and to adapt to labour market needs;

fostering more inclusive labour markets and social safety systems that integrate disadvantaged people, including people with disabilities and people from minority groups;

efficient management of labour migration, aiming at strengthening its positive impact on development;

equal opportunities, aiming at enhancing gender equality and ensuring equal opportunities between women and men, as well as combating discrimination on all grounds;

social policy, aiming at enhancing the level of social protection, including social assistance and social insurance, and modernising social protection systems, in terms of quality, accessibility and financial sustainability;

enhancing the participation of social partners and promoting social dialogue, including through strengthening the capacity of all relevant stakeholders; and

promoting health and safety at work.

aiming at the approximation of consumer legislation, based on the priorities in Annex IV to this Agreement, while avoiding barriers to trade for ensuring consumers' real choices;

promoting exchange of information on consumer protection systems, including consumer legislation and its enforcement, consumer product safety, including market surveillance, consumer information systems and tools, consumer education, empowerment and consumer redress, and sales and service contracts concluded between traders and consumers;

promoting training activities for administration officials and other consumer interest representatives; and

encouraging the development of independent consumer associations, including non-governmental consumer organisations (NGOs), and contacts between consumer representatives, as well as collaboration between authorities and NGOs in the field of consumer protection.

further strengthening the capacity of the national statistical system, focusing on the sound legal basis, production of adequate data and metadata, dissemination policy and user- friendliness, taking into account various groups of users, including public and private sectors, the academic community and other users;

progressive alignment of the statistical system of the Republic of Moldova with the European Statistical System;

fine-tuning of data provision to the EU, taking into account the application of relevant international and European methodologies, including classifications;

enhancing the professional and management capacity of the national statistical staff to facilitate the application of EU statistical standards and to contribute to the development of the statistical system of the Republic of Moldova;

exchanging experience between the Parties on the development of statistical know-how; and

promoting total quality management of all statistical production processes and dissemination.

demographic statistics, including censuses, and social statistics;

agricultural statistics, including agricultural censuses and environment statistics;

business statistics, including business registers and use of administrative sources for statistical purposes;

macroeconomic statistics, including national accounts, foreign trade statistics, and foreign direct investment statistics;

energy statistics, including balances;

regional statistics; and

horizontal activities, including statistical classifications, quality management, training, dissemination and use of modern information technologies.

improvement and systematisation of regulatory documents on the budgetary, treasury, accounting and reporting systems and their harmonisation on the basis of international standards, respecting also good practice in the EU public sector;

continuous development of multi-annual budget planning and the alignment to EU good practice;

studying the practices of the European countries in inter-budget relations, in order to improve this field in the Republic of Moldova;

fostering approximation of procurement procedures with existing practices in the EU; and

exchange of information, experiences and good practice, including through personnel exchange and joint training in this field.

further improvement of the internal control system (including a functionally independent internal audit function) in state and local authorities by means of harmonisation with generally accepted international standards and methodologies and EU good practice;

the development of an adequate financial inspection system that will complement but not duplicate the internal audit function and will ensure adequate control coverage of government income and expenditure during a transitional period and thereafter;

effective cooperation between the actors involved in financial management and control, audit and inspection with the actors for budget, treasury and accounting to foster the development of governance;

strengthening the competences of the Central Harmonisation Unit for the Public Internal Financial Control (PIFC);

the implementation of internationally accepted external audit standards by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI); and

exchange of information, experiences and good practice through, inter alia, personnel exchange and joint training in this field.

exchanging information, experience and good practice;

improving methods to combat and prevent fraud and corruption in the areas covered by this Chapter, including cooperation between relevant administrative bodies; and

ensuring effective cooperation with the relevant EU institutions and bodies, in the case of on-the-spot checks, inspections and audits related to the management and control of EU funds, according to relevant rules and procedures.

supporting the process of adapting financial services regulation to the needs of an open market economy;

ensuring effective and adequate protection of investors and other consumers of financial services;

ensuring the stability and integrity of the financial system of the Republic of Moldova in its entirety;

promoting cooperation between different actors of the financial system, including regulators and supervisors; and

ensuring independent and effective supervision.

implement strategies for SME development, based on the principles of the Small Business Act for Europe, and monitoring of the implementation process through regular reporting and dialogue. That cooperation will also include a focus on micro enterprises, which are extremely important for both the economies of the EU and of the Republic of Moldova;

create better framework conditions, via the exchange of information and good practice, thereby contributing to improving competitiveness. That cooperation will include the management of structural changes (restructuring), the development of public-private partnerships, and environmental and energy issues, such as energy efficiency and cleaner production;

simplify and rationalise regulations and regulatory practice, with specific focus on exchange of good practice on regulatory techniques, including the EU's principles;

encourage the development of innovation policy, via the exchange of information and good practice regarding the commercialisation of research and development (including support instruments for technology-based business start-ups), cluster development and access to finance;

encourage greater contacts between EU businesses and businesses of the Republic of Moldova and between those businesses and the authorities of the EU and the Republic of Moldova;

support the establishment of export promotion activities in the Republic of Moldova; and

facilitate the modernisation and restructuring of the industry of the Republic of Moldova in certain sectors.

exchange of information by the Parties on developments in their mining and raw material sectors;

exchange of information on matters related to trade in raw materials, with the aim of promoting bilateral exchanges;

exchange of information and best practices in relation to sustainable development aspects of the mining industries; and

exchange of information and best practices in relation to training, skills and safety in the mining industries.

facilitating the mutual understanding of agricultural and rural development policies;

enhancing the administrative capacities at central and local level in the planning, evaluation and implementation of policies in accordance with EU regulations and best practices;

promoting the modernisation and the sustainability of agricultural production;

sharing knowledge and best practices of rural development policies to promote economic well-being for rural communities;

improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and the efficiency and transparency of the markets;

promoting quality policies and their control mechanisms, in particular geographical indications and organic farming;

disseminating knowledge and promoting extension services to agricultural producers; and

enhancing the harmonisation of issues dealt within the framework of international organisations of which the Parties are members.

energy strategies and policies;

the development of competitive, transparent and non-discriminatory energy markets in accordance with EU standards, including obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, through regulatory reforms and through the participation in regional energy cooperation;

development of an attractive and stable investment climate by addressing institutional, legal, fiscal and other conditions;

energy infrastructure, including projects of common interest, in order to diversify energy sources, suppliers and transportation routes in an efficient economic and environmentally sound manner, inter alia, through the facilitation of loan and grant funded investments;

enhancement and strengthening of long-term stability and security of energy supply and trade, transit and transport on a mutually beneficial and non-discriminatory basis in accordance with EU and international rules;

promotion of energy efficiency and energy saving, inter alia, concerning energy performance of buildings, and the development and support of renewable energies in an economic and environmentally sound manner;

reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, including through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects;

scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of information for the development and improvement of technologies in energy production, transportation, supply and end use, with particular attention to energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies; and

cooperation may be pursued in the areas of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, in accordance with the principles and standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the relevant international treaties and conventions concluded within the framework of the IAEA, as well as in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, where applicable.

expand and strengthen their transport cooperation in order to contribute to the development of sustainable transport systems;

promote efficient, safe and secure transport operations as well as intermodality and interoperability of transport systems; and

endeavour to enhance the main transport links between their territories.

development of a sustainable national transport policy covering all modes of transport, particularly with a view to ensuring efficient, safe and secure transport systems and promoting the integration of considerations in the sphere of transport into other policy areas;

development of sector strategies in light of the national transport policy (including legal requirements for the upgrading of technical equipment and transport fleets to meet highest international standards) for road, rail, inland waterway, aviation, and intermodality, including timetables and milestones for implementation, administrative responsibilities as well as financing plans;

improvement of the infrastructure policy in order to better identify and evaluate infrastructure projects in the various modes of transport;

development of funding strategies focusing on maintenance, capacity constraints and missing link infrastructure as well as activating and promoting the participation of the private sector in transport projects;

accession to relevant international transport organisations and agreements, including procedures for ensuring strict implementation and effective enforcement of international transport agreements and conventions;

scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of information for the development and improvement of technologies in transport, such as intelligent transport systems; and

promotion of the use of intelligent transport systems and information technology in managing and operating all modes of transport as well as supporting intermodality and cooperation in the use of space systems and commercial applications facilitating transport.

environmental governance and horizontal issues, including Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment, education and training, environmental liability, combating environmental crime, transboundary cooperation, access to environmental information, decision-making processes and effective administrative and judicial review procedures;

air quality;

water quality and resource management, including flood risk management, water scarcity and droughts;

waste and resource management and shipment of waste;

nature protection, including conservation and protection of biological and landscape diversity;

industrial pollution and industrial hazards;

chemicals;

noise pollution;

soil protection;

urban and rural environment;

environmental fees and taxes;

monitoring and environmental information systems;

inspection and enforcement; and

eco-innovation including best available technologies.

exchange information and expertise;

implement joint research activities and exchange of information on cleaner technologies;

plan the handling of industrial hazards and accidents;

implement joint activities at regional and international level, including with regard to multilateral environment agreements ratified by the Parties, and joint activities in the framework of relevant agencies, as appropriate.

development of an overall strategy on the environment, covering planned institutional reforms (with timetables) for ensuring implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation; division of competence for the environmental administration at national, regional and municipal levels; procedures for decision making and the implementation of decisions; procedures for the promotion of the integration of the environment into other policy areas; promotion of green economy measures and eco-innovation, identification of the necessary human and financial resources and a review mechanism; and

development of sector strategies on air quality; water quality and resource management; waste and resource management; biodiversity and nature protection; industrial pollution and industrial hazards and chemicals, noise pollution, soil protection, urban and rural environment, eco-innovation including clearly defined timetables and milestones for implementation, administrative responsibilities, as well as financing strategies for investments for infrastructure and technology.

mitigation of climate change;

adaptation to climate change;

carbon trading;

research, development, demonstration, deployment and diffusion of safe and sustainable low-carbon and adaptation technologies;

mainstreaming of climate considerations into sector policies; and

awareness raising, education and training.

exchange information and expertise;

implement joint research activities and exchanges of information on cleaner technologies;

implement joint activities at regional and international level, including with regard to multilateral environment agreements ratified by the Parties, and joint activities in the framework of relevant agencies, as appropriate.

an overall climate strategy and action plan for the long-term mitigation of and adaptation to climate change;

vulnerability and adaptation assessments;

a National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change;

a low-carbon development strategy;

long-term measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases;

measures to prepare for carbon trading;

measures to promote technology transfer on the basis of a technology needs assessment;

measures to mainstream climate considerations into sector policies; and

measures related to ozone-depleting substances.

exchange of information and best practices on the implementation of national Information Society strategies, including, inter alia, initiatives aiming at promoting broadband access, improving network security and developing public services online;

exchange of information, best practices and experience to promote the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for electronic communications, and in particular to strengthen the administrative capacity of the national administration in Information and Communication Technologies, as well as of the independent regulator, to foster a better use of spectrum resources and to promote interoperability of networks in the Republic of Moldova and with the EU;

encouraging and promoting the implementation of ICT tools for a better governance, e-learning and research, public healthcare, digitisation of cultural heritage, development of e — content and electronic commerce; and

enhancing the level of security of personal data and the protection of privacy in electronic communications.

respect for the integrity and interests of local communities, particularly in rural areas;

the importance of cultural heritage; and

positive interaction between tourism and environmental preservation.

exchange of information, best practices, experience and ‘know-how’ transfer, including on innovative technologies;

establishment of a strategic partnership between public, private and community interests in order to ensure the sustainable development of tourism;

promotion and development of tourism products and markets, infrastructure, human resources and institutional structures as well as the identification and elimination of barriers to travel services;

development and implementation of efficient policies and strategies including appropriate legal, administrative and financial aspects;

tourism training and capacity building in order to improve service standards; and

development and promotion of community-based tourism.

continuing territorial cooperation with European regions, including through trans-national and cross-border cooperation programmes;

cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, with EU bodies, including the Committee of the Regions, and participation in various European regional projects and initiatives; and

cooperation with, inter alia, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) and the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON).

strengthening of the public health system of the Republic of Moldova, in particular through implementing health sector reform, ensuring high-quality primary healthcare, and improving health governance and healthcare financing;

epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis, as well as increased preparedness for public health threats and emergencies;

prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, mainly through exchange of information and best practices, promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing major health determinants, such as nutrition and addiction to alcohol, drugs and tobacco;

quality and safety of substances of human origin;

health information and knowledge; and

full and timely implementation of international health agreements, in particular the International Health Regulations and the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of 2003.

the progressive integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU's health related networks; and

the progressive enhancement of interaction between the Republic of Moldova and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

facilitating mutual assistance in case of emergencies;

exchanging on a 24-hour basis early warnings and updated information on large scale emergencies affecting the EU or the Republic of Moldova, including requests for and offers of assistance;

assessment of the environmental impact of disasters;

inviting experts to specific technical workshops and symposia on civil protection issues;

inviting, on a case by case basis, observers to specific exercises and trainings organised by the EU and/or the Republic of Moldova; and

strengthening cooperation on the most effective use of available civil protection capabilities.

promoting lifelong learning, which is a key to growth and jobs and can allow citizens to participate fully in society;

modernising education and training systems, enhancing quality, relevance and access;

promoting convergence in higher education, deriving from the Bologna process and the EU higher education modernisation agenda;

reinforcing international academic cooperation and participation in EU cooperation programmes, increasing student and teacher mobility;

establishing a national qualification framework to improve the transparency and recognition of qualifications and competences; and

promoting the aims set in the Copenhagen process on enhanced European cooperation in vocational education and training.

reinforce cooperation and exchanges in the field of youth policy and non-formal education for young people and youth workers;

facilitate active participation of all young people in society;

support young people and youth workers' mobility as a means to promote intercultural dialogue and the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences outside the formal educational systems, including through volunteering; and

promote cooperation between youth organisations to support civil society.

policy dialogue and the exchange of scientific and technological information;

facilitating adequate access to the respective programmes of the Parties;

increasing research capacity and the participation of research entities of the Republic of Moldova in the research framework programmes of the EU;

the promotion of joint projects for research in all areas of RTD;

training activities and mobility programmes for scientists, researchers and other research staff engaged in RTD activities on both sides;

facilitating, within the framework of applicable legislation, the free movement of research workers participating in the activities covered by this Agreement and the cross-border movement of goods intended for use in such activities; and

other forms of cooperation in RTD (including through regional approaches and initiatives), on the basis of the Parties' mutual agreement.

cultural cooperation and cultural exchanges, as well as the mobility of art and artists;

intercultural dialogue;

policy dialogue on cultural policy and audiovisual policy;

cooperation in international fora such as Unesco and the Council of Europe, in order to, inter alia, develop cultural diversity and preserve and valorise cultural and historical heritage; and

cooperation in the field of media.

to strengthen contacts and the exchange of information and experience between all sectors of civil society in the EU and in the Republic of Moldova;

to ensure a better knowledge and understanding of the Republic of Moldova, including its history and culture, in the EU and in particular among civil society organisations based in the Member States, thus allowing for a better awareness of the opportunities and challenges for future relations; and

to ensure, reciprocally, a better knowledge and understanding of the EU in the Republic of Moldova and in particular among civil society organisations of the Republic of Moldova, with a non-exclusive focus on the values on which the EU is founded, its policies and its functioning.

to ensure the involvement of civil society in EU-Republic of Moldova relations, in particular in the implementation of this Agreement;

to enhance civil society participation in the public decision-making process, particularly by establishing an open, transparent and regular dialogue between the public institutions and representative associations and civil society;

to facilitate a process of institution-building and consolidation of civil society organisations in various ways, including advocacy support, informal and formal networking, mutual visits and workshops, in particular with a view to improving the legal framework for civil society; and

to enable civil society representatives from each side to become acquainted with the processes of consultation and dialogue between civil and social partners on the other side, in particular with a view to further integrating civil society in the public policy-making process in the Republic of Moldova.

the prevention and combating of all forms of exploitation (including child labour), abuse, negligence and violence against children, including by developing and strengthening the legal and institutional framework as well as through awareness-raising campaigns in that domain;

the improvement of the system of identification and assistance of children in vulnerable situations, including increased participation by children in decision-making processes and the implementation of efficient mechanisms to handle individual complaints made by children;

exchange of information and best practices on the alleviation of poverty among children, including on measures to focus social policies on children's wellbeing, and to promote and facilitate children's access to education;

the implementation of measures aimed at promoting children's rights within the family and institutions, and strengthening the capacity of parents and carers in order to ensure child development; and

accession to, ratification and implementation of the relevant international documents, including those developed within the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Hague Conference on Private International Law, with the purpose of promoting and protecting of children's rights in line with the highest standards in the field.

‘sanitary and phytosanitary measures’ (SPS measures) means measures, as defined in paragraph 1 of Annex A to the SPS Agreement;

‘animals’ means animals, as defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code or the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE);

‘animal products’ means products of animal origin, including aquatic animal products, as defined in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE;

‘animal by-products not intended for human consumption’ means animal products as listed in Part 2 (II) of Annex XVII-A to this Agreement;

‘plants’ means living plants and specified living parts thereof, including seeds:

‘plant products’ means products of plant origin, unprocessed or having undergone simple preparation insofar as they are not plants, set out in Part 3 of Annex XVII-A to this Agreement;

‘seeds’ means seeds in the botanical sense, intended for planting;

‘pests’ or ‘harmful organisms’ means any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products;

‘protected zone’ for a specified regulated harmful organism means an officially defined geographical area in the Union in which that organism is not established in spite of favourable conditions and its presence in other parts of the Union;

‘animal disease’ means a clinical or pathological manifestation in animals of an infection;

‘aquaculture disease’ means clinical or non-clinical infection with one or more of the aetiological agents of the diseases referred to in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE;

‘infection in animals’ means the situation where animals maintain an infectious agent with or without the presence of clinical or pathological manifestation of an infection;

‘animal welfare standards’ means standards for the protection of animals, developed and applied by the Parties and, as appropriate, in line with the OIE standards;

‘appropriate level’ of sanitary and phytosanitary protection means the appropriate level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection as defined in paragraph 5 of Annex A to the SPS Agreement;

‘region’ means, with regard to animal health, a zone or a region as defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE and, with regard, to aquaculture a zone as defined in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE. For the Union the term ‘territory’ or ‘country’ means the territory of the Union;

‘pest free area’ (PFA) means an area in which a specific pest does not occur as demonstrated by scientific evidence and in which, where appropriate, that condition is being officially maintained;

‘regionalisation’ means the concept of regionalisation as described in Article 6 of the SPS Agreement;

‘consignment’ means a number of live animals or quantity of animal products of the same type, covered by the same certificate or document, conveyed by the same means of transport, consigned by a single consignor and originating in the same exporting Party or region(s) of the Party. A consignment of animals may be composed of one or more lots. A consignment of animal products may be composed of one or more commodities or lots;

‘consignment of plants or plant products’ means a quantity of plants, plant products and/or other objects being moved from a Party to another Party and covered, when required, by a single phytosanitary certificate. A consignment may be composed of one or more commodities or lots;

‘lot’ means a number or units of a single commodity, identifiable by its homogeneity of composition and origin, and forming part of a consignment;

‘equivalence for trade purposes’ (equivalence) means the situation where the importing Party shall accept the measures listed in Annex XVII to this Agreement of the exporting Party as equivalent, even if those measures differ from its own, if the exporting party objectively demonstrates to the importing Party that its measures achieve the importing Party's appropriate level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection or acceptable level of risk;

‘sector’ means the production and trade structure for a product or category of products in a Party;

‘sub-sector’ means a well-defined and controlled part of a sector;

‘commodity’ means the products or objects being moved for trade purpose, including those referred to in points 2 to 7;

‘specific import authorisation’ means a formal prior authorisation by the competent authorities of the importing Party addressed to an individual importer as a condition for import of a single consignment or multiple consignments of a commodity from the exporting Party, within the scope of this Chapter;

‘working days’ means week days except Sunday, Saturday and public holidays in one of the Parties;

‘inspection’ means the examination of any aspect of feed, food, animal health and animal welfare in order to verify that such aspect(s) comply with the legal requirements of feed and food law and animal health and animal welfare rules;

‘plant health inspection’ means official visual examination of plants, plant products or other regulated objects to determine if pests are present and/or to determine compliance with phytosanitary regulations;

‘verification’ means checking, by examination and consideration of objective evidence, whether specified requirements have been fulfilled.

to ensure that their respective legislation and procedures are transparent and publicly available, as far as possible through electronic means, and contain a justification for their adoption. There should be a reasonable time period between the publication of new or amended provisions and their entry into force;

on the need for timely and regular consultations with trade representatives on legislative proposals and procedures related to customs and trade issues. To that end, appropriate and regular consultation mechanisms between the administration and the business community shall be established by each Party;

to make publicly available, as far as possible through electronic means, relevant notices of an administrative nature, including authorities' requirements and entry or exit procedures, hours of operation and operating procedures for customs offices at ports and border crossing points, and points of contact for information enquiries;

to foster cooperation between operators and relevant administrations using non-arbitrary and publicly accessible procedures such as Memoranda of Understanding, based, in particular, on those promulgated by the WCO; and

to ensure that their respective customs and customs-related requirements and procedures continue to meet the legitimate needs of the trading community, follow best practices, and remain the least trade-restrictive possible.

exchange information concerning customs legislation and procedures;

develop joint initiatives relating to import, export and transit procedures, as well as work towards ensuring that an effective service is provided to the business community;

cooperate on the automation of customs and other trade procedures;

exchange, where appropriate, information and data subject to respect of the confidentiality of data and standards and regulations on protection of personal data;

cooperate in preventing and combating illicit cross-border traffic in goods, including in tobacco products;

exchange information or enter into consultations with a view to establishing, where possible, common positions in international organisations in the field of customs such as the WTO, the WCO, the UN, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and the UNECE;

cooperate in the planning and delivery of technical assistance, notably to facilitate customs and trade facilitation reforms in line with the relevant provisions of this Agreement;

exchange best practices in customs operations, in particular on intellectual property rights enforcement, especially in relation to counterfeit products;

promote coordination between all border authorities of the Parties to facilitate the border crossing process and enhance control, taking into account joint border controls, where feasible and appropriate; and

establish, where relevant and appropriate, mutual recognition of trade partnership programmes and customs controls, including equivalent trade facilitation measures.