European Parliament votes for liberalization of Moldovan exports to EU

CHISINAU. July 5 (Interfax) - The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to liberalize Moldova's agricultural exports to the European Union, MEP Siegfried Muresan, who co-chairs the committee for cooperation with Moldova, said.

Under the EP resolution, export quotas will be doubled for a year for seven goods to which tariff quotas still apply. They include tomatoes, garlic, table grapes, apples, cherries, plums, and grape juice. Moldova used to export plums and grapes in large quantities to Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

The decision was made because the situation in Ukraine "has strongly affected Moldovan farmers, who are no longer able to export their goods to the East," Muresan said.

The EU is already Moldova's biggest trading partner, accounting for almost two-thirds of total exports, he said.