EU - Moldova, Republic of Association Agreement (2014)
Previous page Next page

2. Notwithstanding Article 158 of this Agreement, at the request of the other Party, the Party initiating a safeguard investigation and intending to apply safeguard measures shall provide immediately ad hoc written notification of all the pertinent information leading to the initiation of a safeguard investigation and the imposition of safeguard measures, including, where relevant, information on the initiation of a safeguard investigation, on the provisional findings and on the final findings of the investigation, as well as offer the possibility for consultations to the other Party.

3. For the purposes of this Article, a Party shall be considered as having a substantial economic interest when it is among the five largest suppliers of the imported product during the most recent three-year period, measured in terms of either absolute volume or value.

Article 160. Application of Measures

1. When imposing safeguard measures, the Parties shall endeavour to impose them in a way that affects their bilateral trade the least.

2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, if a Party considers that the legal requirements for the imposition of definitive safeguard measures are met and intends to apply such measures, that Party shall notify the other Party and give the latter the possibility to hold bilateral consultations. If no satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the notification, the importing Party may take the appropriate measures to remedy the problem.

Section 2. Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures

Article 161. General Provisions

1. The Parties confirm their rights and obligations under Article VI of GATT 1994, the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of GATT 1994, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement ("Anti-Dumping Agreement"), and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement ("SCM Agreement").

2. The preferential rules of origin established under Chapter 1 (National Treatment and Market Access for Goods) of Title V (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement shall not apply to this Section.

3. The provisions of this Section shall not be subject to Chapter 14 (Dispute Settlement) of Title V (Trade and Trade- related Matters) of this Agreement.

Article 162. Transparency

1. The Parties agree that antidumping and countervailing measures should be used in full compliance with the requirements of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the SCM Agreement, respectively, and should be based on a fair and transparent system.

2. The Parties shall ensure, immediately after the imposition of provisional measures and before the final determin- ation is made, full and meaningful disclosure of all essential facts and considerations which form the basis for the deci- sion to apply measures, without prejudice to Article 6(5) of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and Article 12(4) of the SCM Agreement. Disclosures shall be made in writing and allow interested parties sufficient time to make their comments.

3. Provided it does not unnecessarily delay the conduct of the investigation, each interested party shall be granted the possibility to be heard in order to express its views during anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations.

Article 163. Consideration of Public Interest

Anti-dumping or countervailing measures may not be applied by a Party where, on the basis of the information made available during the investigation, it can clearly be concluded that it is not in the public interest to apply such measures. The public interest determination shall be based on an appreciation of all the various interests taken as a whole, including the interests of the domestic industry, users, consumers and importers to the extent that they have provided relevant information to the investigating authorities.

Article 164. Lesser Duty Rule

Should a Party decide to impose a provisional or a definitive anti-dumping or countervailing duty, the amount of such duty shall not exceed the margin of dumping or the total amount of countervailable subsidies, but it should be less than the margin of dumping or the total amount of countervailable subsidies if such a lesser duty would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

Section 3. Bilateral Safeguard Measures

Article 165. Application of a Bilateral Safeguard Measure

1. If, as a result of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under this Agreement, goods originating in a Party are being imported into the territory of the other Party in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive goods, the importing Party may adopt the measures provided for in paragraph 2 in accordance with the conditions and procedures laid down in this Section.

2. The importing Party may take a bilateral safeguard measure which:

(a) suspends further reduction of the rate of customs duty on the good concerned provided for under this Agreement; or

(b) increases the rate of customs duty on the good to a level which does not exceed the lesser of:

(i) the MFN applied rate of customs duty on the good in effect at the time the measure is taken; or

(ii) the base rate of customs duty specified in the Schedules included in Annex XV pursuant to Article 147 of this Agreement.

Article 166. Conditions and Limitations

1. A Party shall notify the other Party in writing of the initiation of an investigation described in paragraph 2 and consult with the other Party, as far in advance of applying a bilateral safeguard measure as practicable, with a view to reviewing the information arising from the investigation and exchanging views on the measure.

2. A Party shall apply a bilateral safeguard measure only following an investigation by its competent authorities in accordance with Articles 3 and 4.2(c) of the Agreement on Safeguards. To that end, Articles 3 and 4.2(c) of the Agreement on Safeguards are incorporated into this Agreement and made part thereof, mutatis mutandis.

3. When conducting the investigation described in paragraph 2 of this Article, the Party shall comply with the requirements of Article 4.2(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards. To that end, Article 4.2(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards is incorporated into this Agreement and made part thereof, mutatis mutandis.

4. Each Party shall ensure that its competent authorities complete any investigation described in paragraph 2 within one year of the date of its initiation.

5. Neither Party may apply a bilateral safeguard measure:

(a) except to the extent, and for such time, as may be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to facilitate the adjustment of the domestic industry;

(b) for a period exceeding two years. However, that period may be extended by up to two years if the competent authorities of the importing Party determine, in accordance with the procedures specified in this Article, that the measure continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to facilitate the adjustment of the domestic industry and that there is evidence that the industry is adjusting, provided that the total period of application of a safeguard measure, including the period of initial application and any extension thereof, shall not exceed four years;

(c) beyond the expiration of the transitional period; or

(d) with respect to the same product, at the same time as a measure under Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Safeguards is applied.

6. When a Party terminates a bilateral safeguard measure, the rate of customs duty shall be the rate that, according to its Schedule included in Annex XV to this Agreement, would have been in effect but for the measure.

Article 167. Provisional Measures

In critical circumstances where delay would cause damage that would be difficult to repair, a Party may apply a bilateral safeguard measure on a provisional basis pursuant to a preliminary determination that there is clear evidence that the imports of a good originating in the other Party have increased as the result of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under this Agreement, and such imports cause serious injury, or a threat thereof, to the domestic industry. The duration of any provisional measure shall not exceed 200 days, during which time the Party shall comply with the requirements of Articles 166(2) and 166(3) of this Agreement. The Party shall promptly refund any duty paid in excess of the customs duty set out in Annex XV to this Agreement if the investigation described in Article 166(2) of this Agreement does not result in a finding that the requirements of Article 165 of this Agreement have been met. The duration of any provisional measure shall be counted as part of the period prescribed in Article 166(5)(b) of this Agreement.

Article 168. Compensation

1. A Party applying a bilateral safeguard measure shall consult with the other Party in order to arrive at a mutually agreed appropriate trade-liberalising compensation in the form of concessions having substantially equivalent trade effects or equivalent to the value of the additional duties expected to result from the safeguard measure. The Party shall provide an opportunity for such consultations no later than 30 days after the application of the bilateral safeguard measure.

2. If the consultations under paragraph 1 do not result in an agreement on trade-liberalising compensation within 30 days after the consultations begin, the Party whose goods are subject to the safeguard measure may suspend the application of substantially equivalent concessions to the Party applying the safeguard measure.

3. The right of suspension referred to in paragraph 2 shall not be exercised for the first 24 months during which a bilateral safeguard measure is in effect, provided that the safeguard measure conforms to the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 169. Definitions

For the purposes of this Section:

(a) "serious injury" and "threat of serious injury" shall be understood in accordance with Article 4.1(a) and (b) of the Agreement on Safeguards. To that end, Article 4.1(a) and (b) of the Agreement on Safeguards is incorporated into this Agreement and made part thereof, mutatis mutandis; and

(b) transitional period means a period of 10 years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Chapter 3. Technical Barriers to Trade, Standardisation, Metrology, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment

Article 170. Scope and Definitions

1. This Chapter applies to the preparation, adoption and application of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures as defined in the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement ("TBT Agreement"), that may affect trade in goods between the Parties.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, this Chapter does not apply to sanitary and phytosanitary measures as defined in Annex A to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement ("SPS Agreement", nor to purchasing specifications prepared by public authorities for their own production or consumption requirements.

3. For the purposes of this Chapter, the definitions of Annex 1 to the TBT Agreement shall apply.

Article 171. Affirmation of the TBT Agreement

The Parties affirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the TBT Agreement which is hereby incorporated into this Agreement and made part thereof.

Article 172. Technical Cooperation

1. The Parties shall strengthen their cooperation in the field of standards, technical regulations, metrology, market surveillance, accreditation and conformity assessment systems with a view to increasing the mutual understanding of their respective systems and facilitating access to their respective markets. To that end, they may establish regulatory dialogues at both horizontal and sectoral levels.

2. In their cooperation, the Parties shall seek to identify, develop and promote trade facilitating initiatives which may include, but are not limited to:

(a) reinforcing regulatory cooperation through the exchange of data and experience and through scientific and technical cooperation, with a view to improving the quality of their technical regulations, standards, market surveillance, con- formity assessment and accreditation, and making efficient use of regulatory resources;

(b) promoting and encouraging cooperation between their respective organisations, public or private, responsible for metrology, standardisation, market surveillance, conformity assessment and accreditation;

(c) fostering the development of the quality infrastructure for standardisation, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment and the market surveillance system in the Republic of Moldova;

(d) promoting the participation of the Republic of Moldova in the work of related European organisations;

(e) seeking solutions to technical barriers to trade that may arise; and

(f) coordinating their positions in international trade and regulatory organisations such as the WTO and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Article 173. Approximation of Technical Regulations, Standards, and Conformity Assessment

1. The Republic of Moldova shall take the necessary measures in order to gradually achieve conformity with the Union's technical regulations, standards, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment, corresponding systems and market surveillance system, and undertakes to follow the principles and the practice laid down in the relevant Union acquis.

2. With a view to reaching the objectives set out in paragraph 1, the Republic of Moldova shall:

(a) progressively incorporate the relevant Union acquis into its legislation in accordance with the provisions of Annex XVI to this Agreement; and

(b) carry out the administrative and institutional reforms that are necessary to provide the effective and transparent system that is required for the implementation of this Chapter.

3. The Republic of Moldova shall refrain from amending its horizontal and sectoral legislation, except for aligning such legislation progressively with the corresponding Union acquis and for maintaining such alignment, and it shall notify the Union of changes to its domestic legislation.

4. The Republic of Moldova shall ensure the participation of its relevant national bodies in European and international organisations for standardisation, legal and fundamental metrology, and conformity assessment, including accreditation, in accordance with the respective areas of activity of those bodies and the membership status available to them.

5. With a view to integrating its standardisation system, the Republic of Moldova shall:

(a) progressively transpose the corpus of European Standards (EN) as national standards, including the harmonised European standards, the voluntary use of which shall give a presumption of conformity with Union legislation transposed into the legislation of the Republic of Moldova;

(b) simultaneously with such transposition, withdraw conflicting national standards; and

(c) progressively fulfil the conditions for full membership of the European Standards Organisations.

6. After the entry into force of this Agreement, the Republic of Moldova shall provide the Union with reports on the measures taken in accordance with Annex XVI to this Agreement once a year. Where actions listed in Annex XVI to this Agreement have not been executed by the time set therein, the Republic of Moldova shall indicate a new schedule for the completion of such actions. Annex XVI to this Agreement may be adapted by the Parties.

Article 174. Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA)

1. The Parties shall ultimately agree to add an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) as a Protocol to this Agreement, covering sectors from the list in Annex XVI to this Agreement that are considered to be aligned after they have been agreed upon, following verification by the Union, that the relevant sectoral and horizontal legislation, institutions and standards of the Republic of Moldova have been fully aligned with those of the Union. It is intended to ultimately extend the ACAA to cover all the sectors listed in Annex XVI to this Agreement.

2. The ACAA will provide that trade between the Parties in products in the sectors that it covers shall take place under the same conditions as those applying to trade in such products between the Member States.

Article 175. Marking and Labelling

1. Without prejudice to Articles 173 and 174 of this Agreement, and with respect to technical regulations relating to labelling or marking requirements, the Parties reaffirm the principles of Chapter 2.2 of the TBT Agreement that such requirements are not prepared, adopted or applied with a view to or with the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade. For that purpose, such labelling or marking requirements shall not be more trade-restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective, taking account of the risks that non-fulfilment would create.

2. Regarding obligatory marking or labelling in particular, the Parties agree that:

(a) they will endeavour to minimise their needs for marking or labelling, except as required for the adoption of the Union acquis in this area and for the protection of health, safety or the environment, or for other reasonable public policy purposes; and

(b) they retain the right to require the information on the label or marking to be in a specified language.

Chapter 4. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Article 176. Objective

1. The objective of this Chapter is to facilitate trade in commodities covered by sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS measures) between the Parties, whilst safeguarding human, animal or plant life or health, by:

(a) ensuring full transparency as regards measures applicable to trade, listed in Annex XVII to this Agreement;

(b) approximating the regulatory system of the Republic of Moldova to that of the Union;

(c) recognising the animal and plant health status of the Parties and applying the principle of regionalisation;

(d) establishing a mechanism for the recognition of equivalence of measures, maintained by a Party and listed in Annex XVII to this Agreement;

(e) continuing to implement the SPS Agreement;

(f) establishing mechanisms and procedures for trade facilitation; and

(g) improving communication and cooperation between the Parties on measures listed in Annex XVII to this Agreement.

2. This Chapter aims at reaching a common understanding between the Parties concerning animal welfare standards.

Article 177. Multilateral Obligations

The Parties re-affirm their rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements, and in particular the SPS Agreement.

Article 178. Scope

This Chapter shall apply to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures of a Party that may, directly or indirectly, affect trade between the Parties, including all measures listed in Annex XVII to this Agreement.

Article 179. Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) "sanitary and phytosanitary measures" (SPS measures) means measures, as defined in paragraph 1 of Annex A to the SPS Agreement;

(2) "animals" means animals, as defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code or the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE);

(3) "animal products" means products of animal origin, including aquatic animal products, as defined in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE;

(4) "animal by-products not intended for human consumption" means animal products as listed in Part 2 (II) of Annex XVII-A to this Agreement;

(5) "plants" means living plants and specified living parts thereof, including seeds:

(a) fruit, in the botanical sense, other than those preserved by deep freezing;

(b) vegetables, other than those preserved by deep freezing;

(c) tubers, corms, bulbs, rhizomes;

(d) cut flowers;

(e) branches with foliage;

(f) cut trees retaining foliage;

(g) plant tissue cultures;

(h) leaves, foliage;

(i) live pollen; and

(j) bud-wood, cuttings, scions;

(6) "plant products" means products of plant origin, unprocessed or having undergone simple preparation insofar as they are not plants, set out in Part 3 of Annex XVII-A to this Agreement;

(7) "seeds" means seeds in the botanical sense, intended for planting;

(8) "pests" or "harmful organisms" means any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products;

(9) "protected zone" for a specified regulated harmful organism means an officially defined geographical area in the Union in which that organism is not established in spite of favourable conditions and its presence in other parts of the Union;

(10) "animal disease" means a clinical or pathological manifestation in animals of an infection;

(11) "aquaculture disease" means clinical or non-clinical infection with one or more of the aetiological agents of the diseases referred to in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE;

(12) "infection in animals" means the situation where animals maintain an infectious agent with or without the presence of clinical or pathological manifestation of an infection;

(13) "animal welfare standards" means standards for the protection of animals, developed and applied by the Parties and, as appropriate, in line with the OIE standards;

(14) "appropriate level" of sanitary and phytosanitary protection means the appropriate level of sanitary and phytosani- tary protection as defined in paragraph 5 of Annex A to the SPS Agreement;

(15) "region" means, with regard to animal health, a zone or a region as defined in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE and, with regard, to aquaculture a zone as defined in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the OIE. For the Union the term "territory" or "country" means the territory of the Union;

(16) "pest free area" (PFA) means an area in which a specific pest does not occur as demonstrated by scientific evidence and in which, where appropriate, that condition is being officially maintained;

(17) "regionalisation" means the concept of regionalisation as described in Article 6 of the SPS Agreement;

(18) "consignment" means a number of live animals or quantity of animal products of the same type, covered by the same certificate or document, conveyed by the same means of transport, consigned by a single consignor and originating in the same exporting Party or region(s) of the Party. A consignment of animals may be composed of one or more lots. A consignment of animal products may be composed of one or more commodities or lots;

(19) "consignment of plants or plant products" means a quantity of plants, plant products and/or other objects being moved from a Party to another Party and covered, when required, by a single phytosanitary certificate. A consignment may be composed of one or more commodities or lots;

(20) "lot" means a number or units of a single commodity, identifiable by its homogeneity of composition and origin, and forming part of a consignment;

(21) "equivalence for trade purposes"™ (equivalence) means the situation where the importing Party shall accept the measures listed in Annex XVII to this Agreement of the exporting Party as equivalent, even if those measures differ from its own, if the exporting party objectively demonstrates to the importing Party that its measures achieve the importing Party's appropriate level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection or acceptable level of risk;

(22) "sector" means the production and trade structure for a product or category of products in a Party;

(23) "sub-sector" means a well-defined and controlled part of a sector;

(24) "commodity" means the products or objects being moved for trade purpose, including those referred to in points 2 to 7;

(25) "specific import authorisation" means a formal prior authorisation by the competent authorities of the importing Party addressed to an individual importer as a condition for import of a single consignment or multiple consignments of a commodity from the exporting Party, within the scope of this Chapter;

(26) "working days" means week days except Sunday, Saturday and public holidays in one of the Parties;

(27) "inspection" means the examination of any aspect of feed, food, animal health and animal welfare in order to verify that such aspect(s) comply with the legal requirements of feed and food law and animal health and animal welfare rules;

(28) "plant health inspection" means official visual examination of plants, plant products or other regulated objects to determine if pests are present and/or to determine compliance with phytosanitary regulations;

(29) "verification" means checking, by examination and consideration of objective evidence, whether specified requirements have been fulfilled.

Article 180. Competent Authorities

The Parties shall inform each other about the structure, organisation and division of competences of their competent authorities during the first meeting of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee (SPS Sub-Committee) referred to in Article 191 of this Agreement. The Parties shall inform each other of any change of the structure, organisation and division of competences, including of the contact points, concerning such competent authorities.

Article 181. Gradual Approximation

1. The Republic of Moldova shall gradually approximate its sanitary and phytosanitary and animal welfare law to that of the Union as set out in Annex XXIV to this Agreement.

2. The Parties shall cooperate on gradual approximation and capacity-building.

3. The SPS Sub-Committee shall regularly monitor the implementation of the approximation process set out in Annex XXIV to this Agreement in order to provide necessary recommendations on approximation.

4. No later than three months after the entry into force of this Agreement, the Republic of Moldova shall submit a list of the EU sanitary and phytosanitary, animal welfare and other legislative measures which the Republic of Moldova will approximate. The list shall be divided into priority areas that relate to the measures, defined in Annex XVII to this Agreement, specifying the commodity or the group of commodities covered by the approximated measures. That approximation list shall serve as a reference document for the implementation of this Chapter.

5. The approximation list and the principles for the evaluation of the progress in the approximation process will be added to Annex XXIV to this Agreement and will be based on the technical and financial resources of the Republic of Moldova.

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

1.   As regards animal diseases and infections in animals (including zoonosis), the following shall apply:

(a) the importing Party shall recognise for trade purposes the animal health status of the exporting Party or its regions determined in accordance with the procedure set out in Annex XIX Part A to this Agreement, with respect to animal diseases specified in Annex XVIII-A to this Agreement;

  • 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