EU - Moldova, Republic of Association Agreement (2014)
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1. Where an information society service is provided that consists of the transmission in a communication network of information provided by a recipient of the service, or the provision of access to a communication network, each Party shall ensure that the service provider is not liable for the information transmitted, on condition that the provider:

(a) does not initiate the transmission;

(b) does not select the receiver of the transmission; and

(c) does not select or modify the information contained in the transmission.

2. The acts of transmission and of provision of access referred to in paragraph 1 include the automatic, intermediate and transient storage of the information transmitted in so far as it takes place for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission in the communication network, and provided that the information is not stored for any period longer than is reasonably necessary for the transmission.

3. This Article shall not affect the possibility for a court or administrative authority, in accordance with the Parties' legal systems, of requiring the service provider to terminate or prevent an infringement.

Article 258. Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "caching"

1. Where an information society service is provided that consists of the transmission in a communication network of information provided by a recipient of the service, each Party shall ensure that the service provider is not liable for the automatic, intermediate and temporary storage of that information, performed for the sole purpose of making more efficient the onward transmission of the information to other recipients of the service upon their request, on condition that:

(a) the provider does not modify the information;

(b) the provider complies with conditions on access to the information;

(c) the provider complies with rules regarding the updating of the information, specified in a manner widely recognised and used by industry;

(d) the provider does not interfere with the lawful use of technology, widely recognised and used by industry, to obtain data on the use of the information; and

(e) the provider acts expeditiously to remove or to disable access to the information it has stored upon obtaining actual knowledge of the fact that the information at the initial source of the transmission has been removed from the network, or access to it has been disabled, or that a court or an administrative authority has ordered such removal or disablement.

2. This Article shall not affect the possibility for a court or administrative authority, in accordance with the Parties' legal systems, of requiring the service provider to terminate or prevent an infringement.

Article 259. Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "hosting"

1. Where an information society service is provided that consists of the storage of information provided by a recipient of the service, each Party shall ensure that the service provider is not liable for the information stored at the request of a recipient of the service, on condition that:

(a) the provider does not have actual knowledge of illegal activity or information and, as regards claims for damages, is not aware of facts or circumstances from which the illegal activity or information is apparent; or

(b) the provider, upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness, acts expeditiously to remove or to disable access to the information.

2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply when the recipient of the service is acting under the authority or the control of the provider.

3. This Article shall not affect the possibility for a court or administrative authority, in accordance with the Parties' legal systems, of requiring the service provider to terminate or prevent an infringement, nor does it affect the possibility for the Parties of establishing procedures governing the removal or disabling of access to information.

Article 260. No General Obligation to Monitor

1. The Parties shall not impose a general obligation on providers, when providing the services covered by Articles 257, 258 and 259 of this Agreement, to monitor the information which they transmit or store, nor shall they impose a general obligation to actively seek facts or circumstances indicating illegal activity.

2. A Party may establish obligations for information society service providers to promptly inform the competent public authorities of alleged illegal activities undertaken or information provided by recipients of their service or obligations to communicate to the competent authorities, at their request, information enabling the identification of recipients of their service with whom they have storage agreements.

Section 7. Exceptions

Article 261. General Exceptions

1. Without prejudice to general exceptions set in Articles 446 of this Agreement, the provisions of this Chapter and of Annexes XXVII-A and XXVII-E, XXVII-B and XXVII-F, XXVII-C and XXVII-G, XXVII-D and XXVII-H to this Agreement are subject to the exceptions provided for in this Article.

2. Subject to the requirement that such measures are not applied in a manner which would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where like conditions prevail, or a disguised restriction on establishment or cross-border supply of services, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement by any Party of measures:

(a) necessary to protect public security or public morals or to maintain public order;

(b) necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health;

(c) relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources if such measures are applied in conjunction with restrictions on domestic entrepreneurs or on the domestic supply or consumption of services;

(d) necessary for the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value;

(e) necessary to secure compliance with laws or regulations which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Chapter, including those relating to:

(i) the prevention of deceptive and fraudulent practices or dealing with the effects of a default on contracts;

(ii) the protection of the privacy of individuals in relation to the processing and dissemination of personal data and the protection of confidentiality of individual records and accounts;

(iii) safety;

(f) inconsistent with Articles 205(1) and 211 of this Agreement, provided that the difference in treatment is aimed at ensuring the effective or equitable imposition or collection of direct taxes in respect of economic activities, entrepreneurs or services suppliers of the other Party (1).

3. The provisions of this Chapter and of Annexes XXVII-A and XXVII-E, XXVII-B and XXVII-F, XXVII-C and XXVII-G, XXVIL-D and XXVII-H to this Agreement shall not apply to the Parties'™ respective social security systems or to activities in the territory of each Party which are connected, even occasionally, with the exercise of official authority.

(1) Measures that are aimed at ensuring the equitable or effective imposition or collection of direct taxes include measures taken by a Party under its taxation system which: (a) apply to non-resident entrepreneurs and services suppliers in recognition of the fact that the tax obligation of non-residents is determined with respect to taxable items sourced or located in the Party's territory; (b) apply to non-residents in order to ensure the imposition or collection of taxes in the Party's territory; (c) apply to non-residents or residents in order to prevent the avoidance or evasion of taxes, including compliance measures; (d) apply to consumers of services supplied in or from the territory of another Party in order to ensure the imposition or collection of taxes on such consumers derived from sources in the Party's territory; (e) distinguish entrepreneurs and service suppliers subject to tax on worldwide taxable items from other entrepreneurs and service suppliers, in recognition of the difference in the nature of the tax base between them; or (f) determine, allocate or apportion income, profit, gain, loss, deduction or credit of resident persons or branches, or between related persons or branches of the same person, in order to safeguard the Party's tax base. Tax terms or concepts referred to in point (f) of this paragraph and in this footnote are determined according to tax definitions and concepts, or equivalent or similar definitions and concepts, under the domestic law of the Party taking the measure.

Article 262. Taxation Measures

The most-favoured-nation treatment granted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to the tax treatment that Parties are providing or will provide in future on the basis of agreements between the Parties designed to avoid double taxation.

Article 263. Security Exceptions

Nothing In this Agreement shall be construed to:

(a) require any Party to furnish any information, the disclosure of which it considers contrary to its essential security interests;

(b) prevent any Party from taking any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests:

(i) connected with the production of, or trade, in arms, munitions or war materiel;

(ii) relating to economic activities carried out directly or indirectly for the purpose of provisioning a military estab- lishment;

(iii) relating to fissionable and fusionable materials or the materials from which they are derived; or

(iv) taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations; or

(c) prevent any Party from taking any action in pursuance of obligations it has accepted for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.

Chapter 7. Current Payments and Movement of Capital

Article 264. Current Payments

The Parties undertake to authorise, in freely convertible currency, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of the Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, any payments and transfers on the current account of balance of payments between the Parties.

Article 265. Capital Movements

1. With regard to transactions on the capital and financial account of balance of payments, from the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall ensure the free movement of capital relating to direct investments, including the acquisition of real estate, made in accordance with the laws of the host country, investments made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6 (Establishment, Trade in Services and Electronic Commerce) of Title V (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement, and the liquidation or repatriation of invested capital and of any profit stemming therefrom.

2. With regard to transactions on the capital and financial account of balance of payments other than the transactions listed in paragraph 1, from the entry into force of this Agreement, each Party shall ensure, without prejudice to other provisions of this Agreement,

(a) the free movement of capital relating to credits for commercial transactions or for the provision of services in which a resident of one of the Parties is participating; and

(b) the free movement of capital relating to portfolio investments, financial loans and credits by the investors of the other Party.

Article 266. Safeguard Measures

Where, in exceptional circumstances, payments or movements of capital cause, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties for the operation of exchange rate policy or monetary policy, including serious balance of payments difficulties, in one or more Member States or in the Republic of Moldova, the Parties concerned may take safeguard measures for a period not exceeding six months if such measures are strictly necessary. The Party adopting the safeguard measure shall inform the other Party forthwith of the adoption of any safeguard measure and, as soon as possible, of a time schedule for its removal.

Article 267. Facilitation and Evolution Provisions

1. The Parties shall consult with a view to facilitating the movement of capital between the Parties in order to promote the objectives of this Agreement.

2. During the first four years following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall take measures permitting the creation of the necessary conditions for further gradual application of the Union rules on the free move- ment of capital.

3. By the end of the fifth year following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of this Agreement, shall review the measures taken and determine the modalities for further liberalisation.

Chapter 8. Public Procurement

Article 268. Objectives

1. The Parties recognise the contribution of transparent, non-discriminatory, competitive and open tendering to sustainable economic development and set as their objective the effective, reciprocal and gradual opening of their respective procurement markets.

2. This Chapter envisages mutual access to public procurement markets on the basis of the principle of national treatment at national, regional and local level for public contracts and concessions in the public sector as well as in the utilities sector. It provides for a gradual approximation of the public procurement legislation in the Republic of Moldova with the Union acquis on public procurement, accompanied with an institutional reform and the creation of an efficient public procurement system based on the principles governing public procurement in the Union and the terms and definitions set out in Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts and Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors.

Article 269. Scope

1. This Chapter applies to works, supplies and services public contracts, as well as works, supplies and service contracts in the utilities sectors and works and services concessions.

2. This Chapter applies to any contracting authority and any contracting entity which meets the definitions of the Union acquis on public procurement (hereinafter referred to as the "contracting entities"). It also covers bodies governed by public law and public undertakings in the field of utilities, such as state-owned enterprises carrying out the relevant activities, and private undertakings operating on the basis of special and exclusive rights in the field of utilities.

3. This Chapter applies to contracts above value thresholds set out in Annex XXIX-A to this Agreement.

4. The calculation of the estimated value of a public contract shall be based on the total amount payable, net of taxes on value added. When applying those thresholds, the Republic of Moldova will calculate and convert contract values into its national currency, using the conversion rate of its National Bank.

5. Value thresholds shall be revised regularly every two years, beginning in the year of entry into force of this Agreement, based on the average daily value of the euro, expressed in Special Drawing Rights, over the 24 month period terminating on the last day of August preceding the revision, with effect from January 1. The value of the thresholds thus revised shall, where necessary, be rounded down to nearest thousand euro. The revision of the thresholds shall be adopted by decision of the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of this Agreement.

Article 270. Institutional Background

1. Each Party shall establish or maintain an appropriate institutional framework and mechanisms necessary for the proper functioning of the public procurement system and the implementation of the provisions of this Chapter.

2. In the framework of institutional reform, the Republic of Moldova shall designate in particular:

(a) an executive body responsible for economic policy at central government level tasked with guaranteeing a coherent policy in all areas related to public procurement. Such a body shall facilitate and coordinate the implementation of this Chapter and guide the process of gradual approximation to the Union acquis; and

(b) an impartial and independent body tasked with the review of decisions taken by contracting authorities or entities during the award of contracts. In that context, "independent" means that that body shall be a public authority which is separate from all contracting entities and economic operators. There shall be a possibility to subject the decisions taken by that body to judicial review.

3. Each Party shall ensure that decisions taken by the authorities responsible for the review of complaints by economic operators concerning infringements of domestic law shall be effectively enforced.

Article 271. Basic Standards Regulating the Award of Contracts

1. No later than nine months from the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall comply with a set of basic standards for the award of all contracts as stipulated in paragraphs 2 to 15. Those basic standards derive directly from the rules and principles of public procurement, as regulated in the Union acquis on public procurement, including the principles of non-discrimination, equal treatment, transparency and proportionality.

Publication

2. Each Party shall ensure that all intended procurements are published in an appropriate medium in a manner that is sufficient to:

(a) enable the market to be opened up to competition; and

(b) allow any interested economic operator to have appropriate access to information regarding the intended procurement prior to the award of the contract and to express its interest in obtaining the contract.

3. The publication shall be appropriate to the economic interest of the contract to economic operators.

4. The publication shall contain at least the essential details of the contract to be awarded, the criteria for qualitative selection, the award method, the contract award criteria and any other additional information that the economic operators reasonably need to decide on whether to express their interest in obtaining the contract.

Award of contracts

5. All contracts shall be awarded through transparent and impartial award procedures that prevent corrupt practices. That impartiality shall be ensured in particular through the non-discriminatory description of the subject matter of the contract, equal access for all economic operators, appropriate time-limits and a transparent and objective approach.

6. When describing the characteristics of the required work, supply or service, the contracting entities shall use general descriptions of performance and functions and international, European or national standards.

7. The description of the characteristics required of a work, supply or service shall not refer to a specific make or source, or a particular process, or to trademarks, patents, types or a specific origin or production unless such a reference is justified by the subject matter of the contract and accompanied by the words "or equivalent". Preference shall be given to the use of general descriptions of performance or functions.

8. Contracting entities shall not impose conditions resulting in direct or indirect discrimination against the economic operators of the other Party, such as the requirement that economic operators interested in the contract are required to be established in the same country, region or territory as the contracting entity.

Notwithstanding the first subparagraph, in cases where it is justified by the specific circumstances of the contract, the successful applicant may be required to establish certain business infrastructure at the place of performance.

9. The time-limits for expression of interest and for submission of offers shall be sufficiently long to allow economic operators from the other Party to make a meaningful assessment of the tender and prepare their offer.

10. All participants are required to know the applicable rules, selection criteria and award criteria in advance. Those rules must apply equally to all participants.

11. Contracting entities may invite a limited number of applicants to submit an offer, provided that:

(a) it is done in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner; and

(b) the selection is based only on objective factors such as the experience of the applicants in the sector concerned, the size and infrastructure of their businesses or their technical and professional abilities.

In inviting a limited number of applicants to submit an offer, account shall be taken of the need to ensure adequate competition.

12. Contracting entities may use negotiated procedures only in exceptional and defined cases when the use of such a procedure effectively does not distort competition.

13. Contracting entities may use qualification systems only under the condition that the list of qualified operators is compiled by means of a sufficiently advertised, transparent and open procedure. Contracts falling within the scope of such a system shall be awarded also on a non-discriminatory basis.

14. Each Party shall ensure that contracts are awarded in a transparent manner to the applicant who has submitted the economically most advantageous offer or the offer with the lowest price, based on the tender criteria and the procedural rules established and communicated in advance. The final decisions shall be communicated to all applicants without undue delay. Upon request of an unsuccessful applicant, reasons must be provided in sufficient detail to allow the review of such a decision.

Judicial protection

15. Each Party shall ensure that any person having or having had an interest in obtaining a particular contract and who has been, or risks being, harmed by an alleged infringement is entitled to effective, impartial judicial protection against any decision of the contracting entity related to the award of that contract. The decisions taken in the course and at the end of such review procedure shall be made public in a manner that is sufficient to inform all interested economic operators.

Article 272. Planning of Gradual Approximation

1. Prior to the commencement of gradual approximation, the Republic of Moldova shall submit to the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of this Agreement, a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of this Chapter with time schedules and milestones which shall include all reforms in terms of approximation to the Union acquis and institutional capacity building. This roadmap shall comply with the phases and time schedules set out in Annex XXIX-B to this Agreement.

2. The roadmap shall cover all aspects of the reform and the general legal framework for the implementation of public procurement activities, in particular, approximation for public contracts, contracts in the utilities sector, works concessions and review procedures, and strengthening of the administrative capacity at all levels, including review bodies and enforcement mechanisms.

3. Following a favourable opinion by the Association Committee in Trade configuration, the roadmap shall be considered as the reference document for the implementation of this Chapter. The Union shall make its best efforts in assisting the Republic of Moldova in the implementation of the roadmap.

Article 273. Gradual Approximation

1. The Republic of Moldova shall ensure that its existing and future legislation on public procurement will be gradually made compatible with the Union acquis on public procurement.

2. Approximation to the Union acquis shall be carried out in consecutive phases as set out in the schedule in Annex XXIX-B to this Agreement and further specified in Annexes XXIX-C to XXIX-F, XXIX-H, XXIX-I, and XXIX-K thereof. Annexes XXIX-G and XXIX-J to this Agreement identify non-mandatory elements that need not be approximated, whereas Annexes XXIX-L to XXIX-O to this Agreement identify elements of the Union acquis that remain outside the scope of approximation. In that process, due account shall be taken of the corresponding case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the implementing measures adopted by the European Commission, as well as, should it become necessary, of any modifications of the Union acquis occurring in the meantime. The implementation of each phase shall be evaluated by the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of this Agreement, and, following a positive assessment by that Committee, it shall be linked to the reciprocal granting of market access as set out in Annex XXIX-B to this Agreement. The European Commission shall notify without undue delay the Republic of Moldova of any modifications to the Union acquis. It shall provide appropriate advice and technical assistance for the purpose of implementing such modifications.

3. The Association Committee in Trade configuration shall only proceed to the evaluation of a next phase once the measures to implement the previous phase have been carried out and approved according to the modalities set out in paragraph 2.

4. Each Party shall ensure that those aspects and areas of public procurement which are not covered by this Article comply with the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment as set out under Article 271 of this Agreement.

Article 274. Market Access

1. The Parties agree that the effective and reciprocal opening of their respective markets shall be attained gradually and simultaneously. During the process of approximation, the extent of the market access mutually granted shall be linked to the progress made in that process as stipulated in Annex XXIX-B to this Agreement.

2. The decision to proceed to a further phase of market opening shall be made on the basis of an assessment of the quality of the legislation adopted as well as its practical implementation. Such assessment shall be carried out regularly by the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of this Agreement.

3. In so far as a Party has, according to Annex XXIX-B to this Agreement, opened its procurement market to the other Party:

(a) the Union shall grant access to contract award procedures to companies of the Republic of Moldova, whether established or not in the Union, pursuant to Union public procurement rules under treatment no less favourable than that accorded to Union companies;

(b) the Republic of Moldova shall grant access to contract award procedures for Union companies, whether established or not in the Republic of Moldova, pursuant to national procurement rules under treatment no less favourable than that accorded to companies of the Republic of Moldova.

4. After the implementation of the last phase in the process of approximation, the Parties will examine the possibility to grant mutual market access with regard to procurements below the value thresholds set out in Annex XXIX-A to this Agreement.

5. Finland reserves its position with regard to the Aland Islands,

Article 275. Information

1. Each Party shall ensure that contracting entities and economic operators are appropriately informed about public procurement procedures, including through the publication of all relevant legislation and administrative rulings.

2. Each Party shall ensure the effective dissemination of information on tendering opportunities.

Article 276. Cooperation

1. The Parties shall enhance their cooperation through exchanges of experience and information relating to their best practices and regulatory frameworks.

2. The Union shall facilitate the implementation of this Chapter, including through technical assistance where appropriate. In line with the provisions in Title VI (Financial Assistance, and Anti-Fraud and Control Provisions) of this Agreement, specific decisions on financial assistance shall be taken through the relevant Union funding mechanisms and instruments.

3. An indicative list of issues for cooperation is included in Annex XXIX-P to this Agreement.

Chapter 9. Intellectual Property Rights

Section 1. General Provisions and Principles

Article 277. Objectives

The objectives of this Chapter are to:

(a) facilitate the production and commercialisation of innovative and creative products between the Parties; and

(b) achieve an adequate and effective level of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Article 278. Nature and Scope of Obligations

1.   The Parties shall ensure the adequate and effective implementation of the international agreements dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties, including the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (‘the TRIPS Agreement’). The provisions of this Chapter shall complement and further specify the rights and obligations between the Parties under the TRIPS Agreement and other international agreements in the field of intellectual property.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the expression "intellectual property" refers at least to all categories of intellectual property covered by Articles 280 to 317 of this Agreement.

3. Protection of intellectual property includes protection against unfair competition as referred to in Article 10bis of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of 1967 ("the Paris Convention").

Article 279. Exhaustion

Each Party shall provide for a regime of domestic or regional exhaustion of intellectual property rights.

Section 2. Standards Concerning Intellectual Property Rights

Subsection 1. Copyright and Related Rights

Article 280. Protection Granted

The Parties shall comply with the rights and obligations set out in the following international agreements:

(a) the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works ("the Berne Convention");

(b) the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations of 1961;

(c) the TRIPS Agreement; the WIPO Copyright Treaty; and

(d) the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

Article 281. Authors

Each Party shall provide for authors the exclusive right to authorise or prohibit:

  • Article   1 Objectives 1
  • Title   I GENERAL PRINCIPLES 1
  • Article   2 1
  • Title   II POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND REFORM, COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY 1
  • Article   3 Aims of Political Dialogue 1
  • Article   4 Domestic Reformthe Parties Shall Cooperate on the Following Areas: 1
  • Article   5 Foreign and Security Policy 1
  • Article   6 International Criminal Court 1
  • Article   7 Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management 1
  • Article   8 Regional Stability 1
  • Article   9 Weapons of Mass Destruction 1
  • Article   10 Small Arms and Light Weapons and Conventional Arms Export Control 1
  • Article   11 International Cooperation In the Fight Against Terrorism 1
  • Title   III FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE 1
  • Article   12 Rule of Law 1
  • Article   13 Protection of Personal Data 1
  • Article   14 Cooperation on Migration, Asylum and Border Management 1
  • Article   15 Movement of Persons 2
  • Article   16 Preventing and Combating Organised Crime, Corruption and other Illegal Activities 2
  • Article   17 Tackling Illicit Drugs 2
  • Article   18 Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism 2
  • Article   19 Combating Terrorism 2
  • Article   20 Legal Cooperation 2
  • Title   IV ECONOMIC AND OTHER SECTORAL COOPERATION 2
  • Chapter   1 Public Administration Reform 2
  • Article   21 2
  • Article   22 Cooperation Shall Cover the Following Areas: 2
  • Article   23 2
  • Chapter   2 Economic Dialogue 2
  • Article   24 2
  • Article   25 2
  • Article   26 2
  • Chapter   3 Company Law, Accounting and Auditing and Corporate Governance 2
  • Article   27 2
  • Article   28 2
  • Article   29 2
  • Article   30 2
  • Chapter   4 Employment, Social Policy and Equal Opportunities 2
  • Article   31 2
  • Article   32 2
  • Article   33 2
  • Article   34 2
  • Article   35 2
  • Article   36 2
  • Article   37 2
  • Chapter   5 Consumer Protection 2
  • Article   38 2
  • Article   39 2
  • Article   40 2
  • Chapter   6 Statistics 2
  • Article   41 2
  • Article   42 2
  • Article   43 2
  • Article   44 2
  • Article   45 2
  • Article   46 2
  • Chapter   7 Management of Public Finances: Budget Policy, Internal Control, Financial Inspection and External Audit 2
  • Article   47 2
  • Article   48 Budget and Accounting Systems 2
  • Article   49 Internal Control, Financial Inspection and External Audit 2
  • Article   50 Fight Against Fraud and Corruption 2
  • Article   51 3
  • Chapter   8 Taxation 3
  • Article   52 3
  • Article   53 3
  • Article   54 3
  • Article   55 3
  • Article   56 3
  • Article   57 3
  • Chapter   9 Financial Services 3
  • Article   58 3
  • Article   59 3
  • Article   60 3
  • Article   61 3
  • Chapter   10 Industrial and Enterprise Policy 3
  • Article   62 3
  • Article   63 3
  • Article   64 3
  • Chapter   11 Mining and Raw Materials 3
  • Article   65 3
  • Article   66 3
  • Chapter   12 Agriculture and Rural Development 3
  • Article   67 3
  • Article   68 3
  • Article   69 3
  • Article   70 3
  • Chapter   13 Fisheries and Maritime Policy 3
  • Section   1 Fisheries Policy 3
  • Article   71 3
  • Article   72 3
  • Article   73 3
  • Section   2 Maritime Policy 3
  • Article   74 3
  • Article   75 3
  • Chapter   14 Energy Cooperation 3
  • Article   76 3
  • Article   77 3
  • Article   78 3
  • Article   79 3
  • Chapter   15 Transport 3
  • Article   80 3
  • Article   81 3
  • Article   82 3
  • Article   83 3
  • Article   84 3
  • Article   85 3
  • Chapter   16 Environment 3
  • Article   86 3
  • Article   87 3
  • Article   88 4
  • Article   89 4
  • Article   90 4
  • Article   91 4
  • Chapter   17 Climate Action 4
  • Article   92 4
  • Article   93 4
  • Article   94 4
  • Article   95 4
  • Article   96 4
  • Article   97 4
  • Chapter   18 Information Society 4
  • Article   98 4
  • Article   99 4
  • Article   100 4
  • Article   101 4
  • Article   102 4
  • Chapter   19 Tourism 4
  • Article   103 4
  • Article   104 4
  • Article   105 4
  • Article   106 4
  • Chapter   20 Regional Development, Cross-border and Regional Level Cooperation 4
  • Article   107 4
  • Article   108 4
  • Article   109 4
  • Article   110 4
  • Article   111 4
  • Article   112 4
  • Chapter   21 Public Health 4
  • Article   113 4
  • Article   114 4
  • Article   115 4
  • Article   116 4
  • Chapter   22 Civil Protection 4
  • Article   117 4
  • Article   118 4
  • Article   119 4
  • Article   120 4
  • Article   121 4
  • Chapter   23 Cooperation on Education, Training, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport 4
  • Article   122 4
  • Article   123 4
  • Article   124 5
  • Article   125 5
  • Article   126 5
  • Chapter   24 Cooperation In Research, Technological Development and Demonstration 5
  • Article   127 5
  • Article   128 5
  • Article   129 5
  • Chapter   25 Cooperation on Culture, Audio-visual Policy and Media 5
  • Article   130 5
  • Article   131 5
  • Article   132 5
  • Article   133 5
  • Chapter   26 Civil Society Cooperation 5
  • Article   134 5
  • Article   135 5
  • Article   136 5
  • Chapter   27 Cooperation In the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of the Child 5
  • Article   137 5
  • Article   138 5
  • Article   139 5
  • Chapter   28 Participation In Union Agencies and Programmes 5
  • Article   140 5
  • Article   141 5
  • Article   142 5
  • Title   V TRADE AND TRADE-RELATED MATTERS 5
  • Chapter   1 National Treatment and Market Access for Goods 5
  • Section   1 Common Provisions 5
  • Article   143 Objective 5
  • Article   144 Scope and Coverage 5
  • Section   2 Elimination of Customs Duties, Fees and other Charges 5
  • Article   145 Definition of Customs Duties 5
  • Article   146 Classification of Goods 5
  • Article   147 Elimination of Customs Duties on Imports 5
  • Article   148 Anti-circumvention Mechanism for Agricultural Products and Processed Agricultural Products 5
  • Article   149 Standstill 5
  • Article   150 Customs Duties on Exports 5
  • Article   151 Fees and other Charges 5
  • Section   3 Non-tariff Measures 5
  • Article   152 National Treatment 5
  • Article   153 Import and Export Restrictions 5
  • Section   4 Specific Provisions Related to Goods 5
  • Article   154 General Exceptions 5
  • Section   5 Administrative Cooperation and Coordination with other Countries 5
  • Article   155 Special Provisions on Administrative Cooperation 5
  • Article   156 Management of Administrative Errors 5
  • Article   157 Agreements with other Countries 5
  • Chapter   2 Trade Remedies 5
  • Section   1 Global Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   158 5
  • Article   159 Transparency 5
  • Article   160 Application of Measures 6
  • Section   2 Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures 6
  • Article   161 General Provisions 6
  • Article   162 Transparency 6
  • Article   163 Consideration of Public Interest 6
  • Article   164 Lesser Duty Rule 6
  • Section   3 Bilateral Safeguard Measures 6
  • Article   165 Application of a Bilateral Safeguard Measure 6
  • Article   166 Conditions and Limitations 6
  • Article   167 Provisional Measures 6
  • Article   168 Compensation 6
  • Article   169 Definitions 6
  • Chapter   3 Technical Barriers to Trade, Standardisation, Metrology, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment 6
  • Article   170 Scope and Definitions 6
  • Article   171 Affirmation of the TBT Agreement 6
  • Article   172 Technical Cooperation 6
  • Article   173 Approximation of Technical Regulations, Standards, and Conformity Assessment 6
  • Article   174 Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) 6
  • Article   175 Marking and Labelling 6
  • Chapter   4 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 6
  • Article   176 Objective 6
  • Article   177 Multilateral Obligations 6
  • Article   178 Scope 6
  • Article   179 Definitions 6
  • Article   180 Competent Authorities 6
  • Article   181 Gradual Approximation 6
  • Article   182 Recognition for Trade Purposes of Animal Health and Pest Status and Regional Conditions Recognition of Status for Animal Diseases, Infections In Animals or Pests 6
  • Article   183 Recognition of Equivalence 7
  • Article   184 Transparency and Exchange of Information 7
  • Article   185 Notification, Consultation and Facilitation of Communication 7
  • Article   186 Trade Conditions 7
  • Article   187 Certification Procedure 7
  • Article   188 Verification 7
  • Article   189 Import Checks and Inspection Fees 7
  • Article   190 Safeguard Measures 7
  • Article   191 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee 7
  • Chapter   5 Customs and Trade Facilitation 7
  • Article   192 Objectives 7
  • Article   193 Legislation and Procedures 7
  • Article   194 Relations with the Business Community 7
  • Article   195 Fees and Charges 7
  • Article   196 Customs Valuation 7
  • Article   197 Customs Cooperation 7
  • Article   198 Mutual Administrative Assistance In Customs Matters 8
  • Article   199 Technical Assistance and Capacity Building 8
  • Article   200 Customs Sub-Committee 8
  • Article   201 Approximation of Customs Legislation 8
  • Chapter   6 Establishment, Trade In Services and Electronic Commerce 8
  • Section   1 General Provisions 8
  • Article   202 Objective, Scope and Coverage 8
  • Article   203 Definitions 8
  • Section   2 Establishment 8
  • Article   204 Scope 8
  • Article   205 National Treatment and Most-favoured-nation Treatment 8
  • Article   206 Review 8
  • Article   207 Other Agreements 8
  • Article   208 Standard of Treatment for Branches and Representative Offices 8
  • Section   3 Cross-border Supply of Services 8
  • Article   209 Scope 8
  • Article   210 Market Access 8
  • Article   211 National Treatment 8
  • Article   212 Lists of Commitments 8
  • Article   213 Review 8
  • Section   4 Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes 8
  • Article   214 Scope and Definitions 8
  • Article   215 Key Personnel and Graduate Trainees 9
  • Article   216 Business Sellers 9
  • Article   217 Contractual Service Suppliers 9
  • Article   218 Independent Professionals 9
  • Section   5 Regulatory Framework 9
  • Subsection   1 Domestic Regulation 9
  • Article   219 Scope and Definitions 9
  • Article   220 Conditions for Licencing and Qualification 9
  • Article   221 Licencing and Qualification Procedures 9
  • Subsection   2 Provisions of General Application 9
  • Article   222 Mutual Recognition 9
  • Article   223 Transparency and Disclosure of Confidential Information 9
  • Subsection   3 Computer Services 9
  • Article   224 Understanding on Computer Services 9
  • Subsection   4 Postal and Courier Services 9
  • Article   225 Scope and Definitions 9
  • Article   226 Prevention of Anti-competitive Practices In the Postal and Courier Sector 9
  • Article   227 Universal Service 9
  • Article   228 Licences 9
  • Article   229 Independence of the Regulatory Body 9
  • Article   230 Gradual Approximation 9
  • Subsection   5 Electronic Communication Networks and Services 9
  • Article   231 Scope and Definitions 9
  • Article   232 Regulatory Authority 9
  • Article   233 Authorisation to Provide Electronic Communication Services 9
  • Article   234 Access and Interconnection 9
  • Article   235 Scarce Resources 10
  • Article   236 Universal Service 10
  • Article   237 Cross-border Provision of Electronic Communication Services 10
  • Article   238 Confidentiality of Information 10
  • Article   239 Disputes between Services Suppliers 10
  • Article   240 Gradual Approximation 10
  • Subsection   6 Financial Services 10
  • Article   241 Scope and Definition 10
  • Article   242 Prudential Carve-out 10
  • Article   243 Effective and Transparent Regulation 10
  • Article   244 New Financial Services 10
  • Article   245 Data Processing 10
  • Article   246 Specific Exceptions 10
  • Article   247 Self-regulatory Organisations 10
  • Article   248 Clearing and Payment Systems 10
  • Article   249 Gradual Approximation 10
  • Subsection   7 Transport Services 10
  • Article   250 Scope 10
  • Article   251 International Maritime Transport 10
  • Article   252 Air Transport 10
  • Article   253 Gradual Approximation 10
  • Subsection   6 Electronic Commerce 10
  • Subsection   1 General Provisions 10
  • Article   254 Objective and Principles 10
  • Article   255 Cooperation In Electronic Commerce 10
  • Subsection   2 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers 10
  • Article   256 Use of Intermediaries' Services 10
  • Article   257 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "Mere Conduit"™ 11
  • Article   258 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "caching" 11
  • Article   259 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "hosting" 11
  • Article   260 No General Obligation to Monitor 11
  • Section   7 Exceptions 11
  • Article   261 General Exceptions 11
  • Article   262 Taxation Measures 11
  • Article   263 Security Exceptions 11
  • Chapter   7 Current Payments and Movement of Capital 11
  • Article   264 Current Payments 11
  • Article   265 Capital Movements 11
  • Article   266 Safeguard Measures 11
  • Article   267 Facilitation and Evolution Provisions 11
  • Chapter   8 Public Procurement 11
  • Article   268 Objectives 11
  • Article   269 Scope 11
  • Article   270 Institutional Background 11
  • Article   271 Basic Standards Regulating the Award of Contracts 11
  • Article   272 Planning of Gradual Approximation 11
  • Article   273 Gradual Approximation 11
  • Article   274 Market Access 11
  • Article   275 Information 11
  • Article   276 Cooperation 11
  • Chapter   9 Intellectual Property Rights 11
  • Section   1 General Provisions and Principles 11
  • Article   277 Objectives 11
  • Article   278 Nature and Scope of Obligations 11
  • Article   279 Exhaustion 11
  • Section   2 Standards Concerning Intellectual Property Rights 11
  • Subsection   1 Copyright and Related Rights 11
  • Article   280 Protection Granted 11
  • Article   281 Authors 11
  • Article   282 Performers 12
  • Article   283 Producers of Phonograms 12
  • Article   284 Broadcasting Organisations 12
  • Article   285 Broadcasting and Communication to the Public 12
  • Article   286 Term of Protection 12
  • Article   287 Protection of Technological Measures 12
  • Article   288 Protection of Rights Management Information 12
  • Article   289 Exceptions and Limitations 12
  • Article   290 Artists' Resale Right In Works of Art 12
  • Subsection   2 Trademarks 12
  • Article   292 International Agreements 12
  • Article   293 Registration Procedure 12
  • Article   294 Well-known Trademarks 12
  • Article   295 Exceptions to the Rights Conferred by a Trademark 12
  • Subsection   3 Geographical Indications 12
  • Article   296 Scope 12
  • Article   297 Established Geographical Indications 12
  • Article   298 Addition of New Geographical Indications 12
  • Article   299 Scope of Protection of Geographical Indications 12
  • Article   300 Right of Use of Geographical Indications 12
  • Article   301 Enforcement of Protection 12
  • Article   302 Implementation of Complementary Actions 12
  • Article   303 Relationship with Trademarks 12
  • Article   304 General Rules 12
  • Article   305 Cooperation and Transparency 12
  • Article   306 Geographical Indications Sub-Committee 12
  • Subsection   4 Designs 12
  • Article   307 International Agreements 12
  • Article   308 Protection of Registered Designs 12
  • Article   309 Protection Conferred to Unregistered Designs 12
  • Article   310 Exceptions and Exclusions 12
  • Article   311 Relationship to Copyright 13
  • Subsection   5 Patents 13
  • Article   312 International Agreements 13
  • Article   313 Patents and Public Health 13
  • Article   314 Supplementary Protection Certificate 13
  • Article   315 Protection of Data Submitted to Obtain an Authorisation to Put a Medicinal Product on the Market 13
  • Article   316 Data Protection on Plant Protection Products 13
  • Article   317 Plant Varieties 13
  • Section   3 Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights 13
  • Article   318 General Obligations 13
  • Article   319 Entitled Applicants 13
  • Subsection   1 Civil Enforcement 13
  • Article   320 Measures for Preserving Evidence 13
  • Article   321 Right of Information 13
  • Article   322 Provisional and Precautionary Measures 13
  • Article   323 Corrective Measures 13
  • Article   324 Injunctions 13
  • Article   325 Alternative Measures 13
  • Article   326 Damages 13
  • Article   327 Legal Costs 13
  • Article   328 Publication of Judicial Decisions 13
  • Article   329 Presumption of Authorship or Ownership 13
  • Subsection   2 Other Provisions 13
  • Article   330 Border Measures 13
  • Article   331 Codes of Conduct 13
  • Article   332 Cooperation 13
  • Chapter   10 Competition 13
  • Section   1 Antitrust and Mergers 13
  • Article   333 Definitions 13
  • Article   334 Principles 13
  • Article   335 Implementation 13
  • Article   336 State Monopolies, Public Undertakings and Undertakings Entrusted with Special or Exclusive Rights 13
  • Article   337 Cooperation and Exchange of Information 13
  • Article   338 Dispute Settlement 13
  • Section   2 State Aid 13
  • Article   339 General Principles and Scope 13
  • Article   342 Transparency 14
  • Article   343 Confidentiality 14
  • Article   344 Review Clause 14
  • Chapter   11 Trade-related Energy 14
  • Article   345 Definitions 14
  • Article   346 Domestic Regulated Prices 14
  • Article   347 Prohibition of Dual Pricing 14
  • Article   348 Transit 14
  • Article   349 Transport 14
  • Article   350 Unauthorised Taking of Goods In Transit 14
  • Article   351 Uninterrupted Transit 14
  • Article   352 Transit Obligation for Operators 14
  • Article   353 Regulatory Authority for Electricity and Natural Gas 14
  • Article   354 Relationship with the Energy Community Treaty 14
  • Chapter   12 Transparency 14
  • Article   355 Definitions 14
  • Article   356 Objective and Scope 14
  • Article   357 Publication 14
  • Article   358 Enquiries and Contact Points 14
  • Article   359 Administration of Measures of General Application 14
  • Article   360 Review and Appeal 14
  • Article   361 Regulatory Quality and Performance and Good Administrative Behaviour 14
  • Article   362 Specific Rules 14
  • Chapter   13 Trade and Sustainable Development 14
  • Article   363 Context and Objectives 14
  • Article   364 Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection 14
  • Article   365 Multilateral Labour Standards and Agreements 14
  • Article   366 Multilateral Environmental Governance and Agreements 14
  • Article   367 Trade and Investment Promoting Sustainable Development 14
  • Article   368 Biological Diversity 14
  • Article   369 Sustainable Management of Forests and Trade In Forest Products 14
  • Article   370 Trade In Fish Products 14
  • Article   371 Upholding Levels of Protection 14
  • Article   372 Scientific Information 14
  • Article   373 Transparency 14
  • Article   374 Review of Sustainability Impacts 14
  • Article   375 Working Together on Trade and Sustainable Development 14
  • Article   376 Institutional and Overseeing Mechanisms 15
  • Article   377 Joint Civil Society Dialogue Forum 15
  • Article   378 Government Consultations 15
  • Article   379 Panel of Experts 15
  • Chapter   14 Dispute Settlement 15
  • Section   1 Objective and Scope 15
  • Article   380 Objective 15
  • Article   381 Scope of Application 15
  • Section   2 Consultations and Mediation 15
  • Article   382 Consultations 15
  • Article   383 Mediation 15
  • Section   3 Dispute Settlement Procedures 15
  • Subsection   1 Arbitration Procedure 15
  • Article   384 Initiation of the Arbitration Procedure 15
  • Article   385 Establishment of the Arbitration Panel 15
  • Article   386 Preliminary Ruling on Urgency 15
  • Article   387 Arbitration Panel Report 15
  • Article   388 Conciliation for Urgent Energy Disputes 15
  • Article   389 Notification of the Ruling of the Arbitration Panel 15
  • Subsection   2 Compliance 15
  • Article   390 Compliance with the Arbitration Panel Ruling 15
  • Article   391 Reasonable Period of Time for Compliance 15
  • Article   392 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply with the Arbitration Panel Ruling 15
  • Article   393 Temporary Remedies In Case of Non-compliance 15
  • Article   394 Remedies for Urgent Energy Disputes 15
  • Article   395 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply after the Adoption of Temporary Remedies for Non-compliance 15
  • Subsection   3 Common Provisions 15
  • Article   396 Replacement of Arbitrators 15
  • Article   397 Suspension and Termination of Arbitration and Compliance Procedures 15
  • Article   398 Mutually Agreed Solution 15
  • Article   399 Rules of Procedure 15
  • Article   400 Information and Technical Advice 15
  • Article   401 Rules of Interpretation 15
  • Article   402 Decisions and Rulings of the Arbitration Panel 15
  • Article   403 Referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union 15
  • Section   4 General Provisions Article 404 Lists of Arbitrators 15
  • Article   405 Relation with WTO Obligations 15
  • Article   406 Time-limits 15
  • Chapter   15 General Provisions on Approximation Under Title V 15
  • Article   407 Progress In Approximation In Trade-related Areas 15
  • Article   408 Repeal of Inconsistent Domestic Law 16
  • Article   409 Assessment of Approximation In Trade-related Areas 16
  • Article   410 Developments Relevant to Approximation 16
  • Article   411 Exchange of Information 16
  • Article   412 General Provision 16
  • Title   VI FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND ANTI-FRAUD AND CONTROL PROVISIONS 16
  • Chapter   1 Financial Assistance 16
  • Article   413 16
  • Article   414 16
  • Article   415 16
  • Article   416 16
  • Article   417 16
  • Article   418 16
  • Article   419 16
  • Chapter   2 Anti-fraud and Control Provisions 16
  • Article   420 Definitions 16
  • Article   421 Scope 16
  • Article   422 Measures to Prevent and Fight Fraud, Corruption and Any other Illegal Activities 16
  • Article   423 Exchange of Information and Further Cooperation at Operational Level 16
  • Article   424 Prevention of Irregularities, Fraud and Corruption 16
  • Article   425 Investigation and Prosecution 16
  • Article   426 Communication of Fraud, Corruption and Irregularities 16
  • Article   427 Audits 16
  • Article   428 On-the-spot Checks 16
  • Article   429 Administrative Measures and Penalties 16
  • Article   430 Recovery 16
  • Article   431 Confidentiality 16
  • Article   432 16
  • Title   VII INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 16
  • Chapter   1 Institutional Framework 16
  • Article   433 16
  • Article   434 16
  • Article   435 16
  • Article   436 16
  • Article   437 16
  • Article   438 16
  • Article   439 16
  • Article   440 16
  • Article   441 16
  • Article   442 16
  • Article   443 16
  • Chapter   2 General and Final Provisions 16
  • Article   444 Access to Courts and Administrative Organs 16
  • Article   445 Access to Official Documents 16
  • Article   446 Security Exceptions 16
  • Article   447 Non-discrimination 17
  • Article   448 Gradual Approximation 17
  • Article   449 Dynamic Approximation 17
  • Article   450 Monitoring 17
  • Article   451 Assessment of Approximation 17
  • Article   452 Results of Monitoring, Including Assessments of Approximation 17
  • Article   453 Fulfilment of Obligations 17
  • Article   454 Dispute Settlement 17
  • Article   455 Appropriate Measures In Case of Non-fulfilment of Obligations 17
  • Article   456 Relation to other Agreements 17
  • Article   457 17
  • Article   458 17
  • Article   459 Annexes and Protocols 17
  • Article   460 Duration 17
  • Article   461 Definition of the Parties 17
  • Article   462 Territorial Application 17
  • Article   463 Depositary of this Agreement 17
  • Article   464 Entry Into Force and Provisional Application 17
  • Article   465 Authentic Texts 17
  • ANNEX XXVII  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT; LIST OF COMMITMENTS ON CROSS-BORDER SUPPLY OF SERVICES; LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON KEY PERSONNEL, GRADUATE TRAINEES AND BUSINESS SELLERS; LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON CONTRACTUAL SERVICES SUPPLIERS AND INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS 17
  • ANNEX XXVII-A  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT (UNION) 18
  • ANNEX XXVII-E  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA) 19
  • ANNEX XXXII  MEDIATION MECHANISM 19
  • 1 Objective 19
  • Section   1 Procedure Under the Mediation Mechanism 19
  • 2 Request for Information 19
  • 3 Initiation of the Procedure 19
  • 4 Selection of the Mediator 19
  • 5 Rules of the Mediation Procedure 20
  • Section   2 Implementation 20
  • 6 Implementation of a Mutually Agreed Solution 20
  • Section   3 General Provisions 20
  • 7 Confidentiality and Relationship to Dispute Settlement 20
  • 8 Time Limits 20
  • 9 Costs 20
  • ANNEX XXXIII  RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 20
  • ANNEX XXXIV  CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARBITRATORS AND MEDIATORS 20