(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 (2) entered into force on 31 January 2008 and has been applied since 1 March 2008. That Regulation introduces a specific scheme of autonomous trade preferences (ATPs) for the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter ‘Moldova’). It gives all products originating in Moldova free access to the Union market, except for certain agricultural products listed in its Annex I, for which limited concessions have been given either in the form of exemption from customs duties within the limit of tariff quotas or in the form of a reduction of customs duties.

(2)

In the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the EU-Moldova ENP Action Plan, and the Eastern Partnership, Moldova has adopted an ambitious agenda for political association and further economic integration with the Union. Negotiations on a new Association Agreement started in January 2010. Moldova is also making strong progress on regulatory approximation leading to convergence with Union laws and standards in preparation for future negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) between the Union and Moldova, in the framework of the future Association Agreement.

(3)

Every year since the application of Regulation (EC) No 55/2008, the tariff quota for wine was fully used months before the end of the year.

(4)

Moldova’s economy is strongly affected by the adverse effects of the global financial and economic crises. The wine sector employs some 300 000 workers, and exports of wine are an important source of export earnings.

(5)

In order to support Moldova’s efforts, in line with the ENP and the Eastern Partnership, and to provide an attractive and reliable market for Moldova’s wine exports, it is proposed to increase the existing tariff quota for wine for the year 2011 from 100 000 hectolitres to 150 000 hectolitres, for the year 2012 from 120 000 hectolitres to 180 000 hectolitres, and from the year 2013 onwards to 240 000 hectolitres per year.

(6)

Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 is applicable until 31 December 2012.

(7)

Negotiations on a future DCFTA between the Union and Moldova are a common objective for both parties provided that Moldova demonstrates its preparedness to negotiate and sustain the effects of such an ambitious undertaking. In order to allow enough time for appropriate preparations and the negotiation of a DCFTA, it is necessary to extend the validity of Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 beyond 31 December 2012.

(8)

The extension of validity of Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 should be decided well in advance of its end date, so as to provide Moldovan economic operators in good time with a transparent and predictable trading regime for their exports to the Union beyond 31 December 2012. The validity of that Regulation should therefore be extended until 31 December 2015.

(9)

In the light of the experience gained under the present ATP scheme, and in order to support further the development of Moldova’s economy and the process of regulatory approximation leading to convergence with Union laws and standards in the context of the Eastern Partnership, it is appropriate to review the level of tariff quotas of some products covered by the present ATPs.

(10)

In order to ensure compliance with the Union’s international obligations, the preferences contained in this Regulation should be made conditional on the continuation or renewal of the existing waiver from World Trade Organization obligations obtained by the Union.

(11)

Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

in Article 16, the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘It shall apply until 31 December 2015.

The preferences provided for in this Regulation shall cease to apply, in whole or in part, should they not be permitted, in whole or in part, by a waiver granted by the World Trade Organization.

Those preferences shall cease to apply from the day on which the waiver is no longer in effect.

The Commission shall, sufficiently prior to that date, publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union to inform operators and the competent authorities thereof. The notice shall specify which preferences provided for by this Regulation will no longer apply and the date on which they cease to apply.’;

(2)

Table 1 of Annex I is replaced by the table appearing in the Annex to this Regulation.