Moldova ratifies EU customs cooperation agreement and decision on authorised economic operators

The Parliament of Moldova ratified an agreement with the European Union on accession to the customs cooperation programme of the EU, and a decision on the mutual recognition of the EU-Moldova programme of authorised economic operators.

The agreement was signed in Brussels on 7 February and ratified around 11 May 2023. It will strengthen cooperation between the customs authorities of the Republic of Moldova and EU countries in the context of commitments to Moldova’s European integration, in a joint effort to ensure border security and facilitate trade. The agreement will also intensify cooperation with the customs authorities of other signatory countries. 

Joint actions under the agreement include strengthening administrative and IT capabilities, development and operation of European electronic systems, and implementing innovations in customs policies. The first equipment has already been delivered to Moldova and will ensure connection between the national and European tax systems.

Also, towards the end of April 2023, the Moldovan Parliament ratified decision no. 1/2022 of the EU-Moldova Customs Subcommittee on the mutual recognition of the EU-Moldova programme of Authorised Economic Operators (AEO), which had been adopted in Brussels on 3 October 2022. Ratification of this decision should strengthen cooperation between the customs authorities of the Republic of Moldova and those of the European Union within the framework of the implementation of the Association Agreement MOLDOVA-EU.  

Thus, each customs authority will provide benefits to the participants in the other authority’s programme. The economic agents that obtain AEO status will benefit from several advantages, such as reduced controls, priority treatment at customs clearance, priority for transport control, and a common mechanism to ensure business continuity in the event of trade disruptions.

According to the Moldovan government, the final goal of ratifying this decision is to increase the security, reliability, and facilitation of the supply chain of goods between Moldova and EU. 

Further information

See Moldovan news sites’ articles about the ratification of the agreement on accession to the EU customs cooperation programme and about ratification of the decision on the mutual recognition of the EU-Moldova programme of authorised economic operators.