Location Brussels, Belgium | ||
 | ||
Type European Union Association Agreement Context framework for cooperation between the EU and a non-EU country Signed June 27, 2014; 2 years ago (2014-06-27) Effective July 1, 2016; 8 months ago (2016-07-01) Condition ratification by all signatories | ||
The Moldova–European Union Association Agreement is a treaty between the European Union (EU), Euratom, their 28 Member States and Moldova that establishes a political and economic association between the two parties. The parties committed to co-operate and converge economic policy, legislation, and regulation across a broad range of areas, including equal rights for workers, the exchange of information and staff in the area of justice, the modernisation of Moldova's energy infrastructure, and access to the European Investment Bank. The parties committed to regular summit meetings, and meetings among ministers, other officials, and experts.
Contents
The agreement commits Moldova to economic, judicial and financial reforms to converge its policies and legislation to those of the European Union.
History
The EU Association Agreement (AA) was initialed on 29 November 2013 in Brussels. It was signed on 27 June 2014 and was being provisionally applied starting 1 September 2014.
On 1 July 2016, the Association Agreement (AA) between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova fully came into force, following ratification by all 31 signatories.
Ratification
The 31 parties are Moldova, the EU and Euratom and the 28 EU members.
Ratification notes
The ratification was performed in accordance with article 4(2)(b) of the Maltese European Union Act, which reads that:
"Provided that with regard to treaties and international conventions which Malta may accede to as Member State of the European Union, and treaties and international conventions which Malta is bound to ratify in its own name or on behalf of the European Community by virtue of its membership within the European Union, these shall come into force one month following their being submitted in order to be discussed by the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs."
As the treaty was submitted to the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs on 21 July 2014, the treaty came into force as part of the Maltese legislation on 21 August 2014.
The ratification was based on The European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Association Agreement) (Moldova) Order 2015, made in accordance with section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, after having been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
Later developments
Igor Dodon, who was elected President of Moldova in November 2016, campaigned on holding a referendum on cancelling the agreement in favour of joining the Eurasian Economic Union.