EU - Moldova, Republic of Association Agreement (2014)
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1. For every sector committed in accordance with Section 2 (Establishment) of this Chapter and subject to any reser- vations listed in Annexes XXVII-A and XXVII-E or in Annexes XXVII-C and XXVII-G to this Agreement, each Party shall allow entrepreneurs of the other Party to employ in their establishment natural persons of that other Party provided that such employees are key personnel or graduate trainees as defined in Article 214 of this Agreement. The temporary entry and temporary stay of key personnel and graduate trainees shall be for a period of up to three years for intra-corporate transferees, 90 days in any 12 month period for business visitors for establishment purposes, and one year for graduate trainees.

2. For every sector committed in accordance with Section 2 (Establishment) of this Chapter, the measures which a Party shall not maintain or adopt either on the basis of a regional subdivision or on the basis of its entire territory, unless otherwise specified in Annexes XXVII-C and XXVII-G to this Agreement, are defined as limitations on the total number of natural persons that an entrepreneur may employ as key personnel and graduate trainees in a specific sector, in the form of numerical quotas or of a requirement of an economic needs test, and as discriminatory limitations.

Article 216. Business Sellers

For every sector committed in accordance with Section 2 (Establishment) or Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services) of this Chapter and subject to any reservations listed in Annexes XXVII-A and XXVII-E, and XXVII-B and XXVII-F to this Agreement, each Party shall allow the entry and temporary stay of business sellers for a period of up to 90 days in any 12 month period.

Article 217. Contractual Service Suppliers

1. The Parties reaffirm their respective obligations arising from their commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) as regards the entry and temporary stay of contractual services suppliers.

In accordance with Annexes XXVII-D and XXVII-H to this Agreement, each Party shall allow the supply of services into their territory by contractual services suppliers of the other Party, subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 3 of this Article.

2. The commitments undertaken by the Parties are subject to the following conditions:

(a) the natural persons must be engaged in the supply of a service on a temporary basis as employees of a juridical person, which has obtained a service contract not exceeding 12 months;

(b) the natural persons entering the other Party should be offering such services as employees of the juridical person supplying the services for at least the year immediately preceding the date of submission of an application for entry into the other Party. In addition, the natural persons shall possess, at the date of submission of an application for entry into the other Party, at least three years professional experience (1) in the sector of activity which is the subject of the contract;

(c) the natural persons entering the other Party shall possess:

(i) a university degree or a qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level (2); and

(ii) professional qualifications where this is required to exercise an activity pursuant to the laws, regulations or legal requirements of the Party where the service is supplied;

(d) the natural person shall not receive remuneration for the provision of services in the territory of the other Party other than the remuneration paid by the juridical person employing the natural person;

(e) the entry and temporary stay of natural persons within the Party concerned shall be for a cumulative period of not more than six months or, in the case of Luxembourg, 25 weeks in any 12 month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less;

(f) access accorded under the provisions of this Article relates only to the service activity which is the subject of the contract and does not confer entitlement to exercise the professional title of the Party where the service is provided; and

(g) the number of persons covered by the service contract shall not be larger than necessary to fulfil the contract, as it may be requested by the laws, regulations or other legal requirements of the Party where the service is supplied.

(1) Obtained after having reached the age of majority.
(2) Where the degree or qualification has not been obtained in the Party where the service is supplied, that Party may evaluate whether this is equivalent to a university degree required in its territory.

Article 218. Independent Professionals

1. In accordance with Annexes XXVII-D and XXVII-H to this Agreement, the Parties shall allow the supply of services into their territory by independent professionals of the other Party, subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 2 of this Article.

2. The commitments undertaken by the Parties are subject to the following conditions:

(a) the natural persons must be engaged in the supply of a service on a temporary basis as self-employed persons established in the other Party and must have obtained a service contract for a period not exceeding 12 months;

(b) the natural persons entering the other Party must possess, at the date of submission of an application for entry into the other Party, at least six years professional experience in the sector of activity which is the subject of the contract;

(c) the natural persons entering the other Party must possess:

(i) a university degree or a qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level (1); and

(ii) professional qualifications where this is required to exercise an activity pursuant to the law, regulations or other legal requirements of the Party where the service is supplied;

(d) the entry and temporary stay of natural persons within the Party concerned shall be for a cumulative period of not more than six months or, in the case of Luxembourg, twenty-five weeks in any 12 month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less; and

(e) access accorded under the provisions of this Article relates only to the service activity which is the subject of the contract and does not confer entitlement to exercise the professional title of the Party where the service is provided.

(1) Where the degree or qualification has not been obtained in the Party where the service is supplied, that Party may evaluate whether this is equivalent to a university degree required in its territory.

Section 5. Regulatory Framework

Subsection 1. Domestic Regulation

Article 219. Scope and Definitions

1. The following disciplines apply to measures by the Parties relating to licencing requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and procedures that affect:

(a) cross-border supply of services;

(b) establishment in their territory of juridical and natural persons defined in Article 203(8) of this Agreement;

(c) temporary stay in their territory of categories of natural persons as defined in Article 214(2)(a) to (e) of this Agree- ment.

2. In the case of cross-border supply of services, those disciplines shall only apply to sectors for which the Party has undertaken specific commitments and to the extent that those specific commitments apply. In the case of establishment, those disciplines shall not apply to sectors to the extent that a reservation is listed in accordance with Annexes XXVII-A and XXVILE to this Agreement. In the case of temporary stay of natural persons, those disciplines shall not apply to sectors to the extent that a reservation is listed in accordance with Annexes XXVII-C and XXVII-D and XXVII-G and XXVILH to this Agreement.

3. Those disciplines do not apply to measures to the extent that they constitute limitations subject to scheduling.

4. For the purposes of this Section:

(a) "licencing requirements" means substantive requirements, other than qualification requirements, with which a natural or a juridical person is required to comply in order to obtain, amend or renew authorisation to carry out the activities as defined in paragraph 1(a) to (0);

(b)"licencing procedures" means administrative or procedural rules that a natural or a juridical person, seeking authorisation to carry out the activities as defined in paragraph 1(a) to (c), including the amendment or renewal of a licence, is required to adhere to in order to demonstrate compliance with licencing requirements;

(c) "qualification requirements" means substantive requirements relating to the competence of a natural person to supply a service, and which are required to be demonstrated for the purpose of obtaining authorisation to supply a service;

(d) "qualification procedures" means administrative or procedural rules that a natural person must adhere to in order to demonstrate compliance with qualification requirements, for the purpose of obtaining authorisation to supply a service; and

(e) "competent authority" means any central, regional or local government or authority or non-governmental body in the exercise of powers delegated by central, regional or local governments or authorities, which takes a decision concerning the authorisation to supply a service, including through establishment or concerning the authorisation to establish in an economic activity other than services.

Article 220. Conditions for Licencing and Qualification

1. Each Party shall ensure that measures relating to licencing requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and procedures are based on criteria which preclude the competent authorities from exercising their power of assessment in an arbitrary manner.

2. The criteria referred to in paragraph 1 shall be:

(a) proportionate to a public policy objective;

(b) clear and unambiguous;

(c) objective;

(d) pre-established;

(e) made public in advance; and

(f) transparent and accessible.

3. An authorisation or a licence shall be granted as soon as it is established, in the light of an appropriate examination, that the conditions for obtaining an authorisation or licence have been met.

4. Each Party shall maintain or institute judicial, arbitral or administrative tribunals or procedures which provide, at the request of an affected entrepreneur or service supplier, for a prompt review of, and where justified, appropriate remedies for, administrative decisions affecting establishment, cross-border supply of services or temporary presence of natural persons for business purposes. Where such procedures are not independent of the agency entrusted with the administrative decision concerned, each Party shall ensure that the procedures in fact provide for an objective and impartial review.

5. Where the number of licences available for a given activity is limited because of the scarcity of available natural resources or technical capacity, each Party shall apply a selection procedure to potential candidates which provides full guarantees of impartiality and transparency, including, in particular, adequate publicity about the launch, conduct and completion of the procedure.

6. Subject to the provisions of this Article, in establishing the rules for the selection procedure, each Party may take into account public policy objectives, including considerations of health, safety, the protection of the environment and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Article 221. Licencing and Qualification Procedures

1. Licencing and qualification procedures and formalities shall be clear, made public in advance and be such as to provide the applicants with a guarantee that their application will be dealt with objectively and impartially.

2. Licencing and qualification procedures and formalities shall be as simple as possible and shall not unduly complicate or delay the provision of the service. Any licencing fees (1) which the applicants may incur from their application should be reasonable and proportionate to the cost of the authorisation procedures in question.

3. Each party shall ensure that the decisions of and the procedures used by the competent authority in the licencing or authorisation process are impartial with respect to all applicants. The competent authority should reach its decision in an independent manner and not be accountable to any supplier of the services for which the licence or authorisation is required.

4. Where specific time periods for applications exist, an applicant shall be allowed a reasonable period for the submission of an application. The competent authority shall initiate the processing of an application without undue delay. Where possible, applications should be accepted in electronic format under the same conditions of authenticity as paper submissions.

5. Each Party shall ensure that the processing of an application, including reaching a final decision, is completed within a reasonable timeframe from the submission of a complete application. Each Party shall endeavour to establish the normal timeframe for processing of an application.

6. The competent authority shall, within a reasonable period of time after receipt of an application which it considers incomplete, inform the applicant, to the extent feasible, identify the additional information required to complete the application, and provide the opportunity to correct deficiencies.

7. Authenticated copies should be accepted, where possible, in place of original documents.

8. If an application is rejected by the competent authority, the applicant shall be informed in writing and without undue delay. In principle, the applicant shall, upon request, also be informed of the reasons for rejection of the application and of the timeframe for an appeal against the decision.

9. Each Party shall ensure that a licence or an authorisation, once granted, enters into effect without undue delay in accordance with the terms and conditions specified therein.

(1) Licencing fees do not include payments for auction, tendering or other non-discriminatory means of awarding concessions, or mandated contributions to universal service provision.

Subsection 2. Provisions of General Application

Article 222. Mutual Recognition

1. Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent a Party from requiring that natural persons possess the necessary qualifications and/or professional experience specified in the territory where the service is supplied, for the sector of activity concerned.

2. Each Party shall encourage the relevant professional bodies to provide recommendations on mutual recognition to the Association Committee in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of this Agreement, for the purpose of the fulfilment, in whole or in part, by entrepreneurs and service suppliers of the criteria applied by each Party for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification of entrepreneurs and service suppliers and, in particular, professional services.

3. On receipt of a recommendation referred to in paragraph 2, the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall, within a reasonable time, review that recommendation with a view to determining whether it is consistent with this Agreement and, on the basis of the information in the recommendation, assess in particular:

(a) the extent to which the standards and criteria applied by each Party for the authorisation, licences, operation and certification of services providers and entrepreneurs are converging; and

(b) the potential economic value of a Mutual Recognition Agreement.

4. Where those requirements are satisfied, the Association Committee in Trade configuration shall establish the necessary steps to negotiate. Thereafter, the Parties shall engage into negotiations, through their competent authorities, of a Mutual Recognition Agreement.

5. Any Mutual Recognition Agreement referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article shall be in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement and, in particular, with Article VII of GATS.

Article 223. Transparency and Disclosure of Confidential Information

1. Each Party shall respond promptly to all requests by the other Party for specific information on any of its measures of general application or international agreements which pertain to or affect this Agreement. Each Party shall also establish one or more enquiry points to provide specific information to entrepreneurs and services suppliers of the other Party, upon request, on all such matters. The Parties shall notify each other their enquiry points within three months after the entry into force of this Agreement. Enquiry points need not be depositories of laws and regulations.

2. Nothing in this Agreement shall require any Party to provide confidential information, the disclosure of which would impede law enforcement or otherwise be contrary to the public interest or prejudice legitimate commercial interests of particular enterprises, public or private.

Subsection 3. Computer Services

Article 224. Understanding on Computer Services

1. To the extent that trade in computer services is liberalised in accordance with Section 2 (Establishment), Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services) and Section 4 (Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes) of this Chapter, the Parties shall comply with the provisions of this Article.

2. CPC (1) 84, the UN code used for describing computer and related services, covers the basic functions used to provide all computer and related services:

(a) computer programmes defined as the sets of instructions required to make computers work and communicate (including their development and implementation);

(b) data processing and storage; and

(c) related services, such as consultancy and training services for staff of clients.

Technological developments have led to the increased offering of those services as a bundle or package of related services that can include some or all of those basic functions. For example, services such as web or domain hosting, data mining services and grid computing each consist of a combination of basic computer services functions.

3. Computer and related services, regardless of whether they are delivered via a network, including the internet, include all services that provide:

(a) consulting, strategy, analysis, planning, specification, design, development, installation, implementation, integration, testing, debugging, updating, support, technical assistance, or management of or for computers or computer systems;

(b) computer programmes, defined as the sets of instructions required to make computers work and communicate (in and of themselves), and consulting, strategy, analysis, planning, specification, design, development, installation, implementation, integration, testing, debugging, updating, adaptation, maintenance, support, technical assistance, management or use of or for computer programmes;

(c) data processing, data storage, data hosting or database services;

(d) maintenance and repair services for office machinery and equipment, including computers; or

(e) training services for staff of clients, related to computer programmes, computers or computer systems, and not else- where classified.

4. Computer and related services enable the provision of other services (e.g. banking) by both electronic and other means. However, there is an important distinction between the enabling service (e.g. web-hosting or application hosting)  and the content or core service that is being delivered electronically (e.g. banking). In such cases, the content or core service is not covered by CPC 84.

(1) CPC means the Central Products Classification as set out in Statistical Office of the UN, Statistical Papers, Series M, No 77, CPC prov, 1991.

Subsection 4. Postal and Courier Services

Article 225. Scope and Definitions

1. This Sub-Section sets out the principles of the regulatory framework for all postal and courier service liberalised in accordance with Section 2 (Establishment), Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services) and Section 4 (Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes) of this Chapter.

2. For the purposes of this Sub-Section and of Section 2 (Establishment), Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services) and Section 4 (Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes) of this Chapter:

(a) "licence" means an authorisation, granted to an individual supplier by a regulatory authority, which is required before supplying a given service;

(b) "universal service" means the permanent provision of a postal service of specified quality at all points in the territory of a Party at affordable prices for all users.

Article 226. Prevention of Anti-competitive Practices In the Postal and Courier Sector

Appropriate measures shall be maintained or introduced for the purpose of preventing suppliers who, alone or together, have the ability to affect materially the terms of participation (having regard to price and supply) in the relevant market for postal and courier services as a result of use of their position in the market, from engaging in or continuing anti-competitive practices.

Article 227. Universal Service

Each Party has the right to define the kind of universal service obligation it wishes to maintain. Such obligations will not be regarded as anti-competitive per se, provided they are administered in a transparent, non-discriminatory and competitively neutral manner and are not more burdensome than necessary for the kind of universal service defined by the Party.

Article 228. Licences

1.   A licence may only be required for services which are within the scope of the universal service.
2.   Where a licence is required, the following shall be made publicly available:

(a) all the licensing criteria and the period of time normally required to reach a decision concerning an application for a licence; and

(b) the terms and conditions of licences.

3. The reasons for the denial of a licence shall be made known to the applicant upon request. An appeal procedure through an independent body will be established by each Party. Such a procedure will be transparent, non-discriminatory, and based on objective criteria.

Article 229. Independence of the Regulatory Body

The regulatory body shall be legally separate from, and not accountable to, any supplier of postal and courier services. The decisions of and the procedures used by the regulatory body shall be impartial with respect to all market participants.

Article 230. Gradual Approximation

Each Party recognises the importance of the gradual approximation of the Republic of Moldova's existing and future legislation to the list of the Union acquis set out in Annex XXVIII-C to this Agreement.

Subsection 5. Electronic Communication Networks and Services

Article 231. Scope and Definitions

1. This Sub-Section sets out the principles of the regulatory framework for all electronic communication services liberalised pursuant to Section 2 (Establishment), Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services), and Section 4 (Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes) of this Chapter.

2. For the purposes of this Sub-Section and Section 2 (Establishment), Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services), and Section 4 (Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes) of this Chapter:

(a) "electronic communication services" means all services which consist wholly or mainly in the conveyance of signals on electronic communication networks, including telecommunication services and transmission services in networks used for broadcasting. Those services exclude services providing, or exercising editorial control over, content transmitted using electronic communication networks and services;

(b) "public communication network" means an electronic communication network used wholly or mainly for the provision of publicly available electronic communication services;

(c) "electronic communication network" means transmission systems and, where applicable, switching or routing equipment and other resources which permit the conveyance of signals by wire, by radio or by optical or other electro-magnetic means, including satellite networks, fixed (circuit- and packet-switched, including internet) and mobile terrestrial networks, electricity cable systems, to the extent that they are used for the purpose of transmitting signals, networks used for radio and television broadcasting, and cable television networks, irrespective of the type of information conveyed;

(d) a "regulatory authority" in the electronic communication sector means the body or bodies charged with the regulation of electronic communication referred to in this Chapter;

(e) a services supplier shall be deemed to have "significant market power" if, either individually or jointly with others, it enjoys a position equivalent to dominance, that is, a position of economic strength affording it the power to behave to an appreciable extent independently of competitors, customers and ultimately consumers;

(f) "interconnection" means the physical and logical linking of public communication networks used by the same or a different supplier in order to allow the users of one services supplier to communicate with users of the same or another services supplier, or to access services provided by another services supplier. Services may be provided by the Parties involved or other parties who have access to the network. Interconnection is a specific type of access implemented between public network operators;

(g) "universal service" means the set of services of specified quality that is made available to all users in the territory of a Party regardless of their geographical location and at an affordable price. Its scope and implementation are decided by each Party;

(h) "access" means the making available of facilities and/or services to another services supplier under defined conditions, on either an exclusive or non-exclusive basis, for the purpose of providing electronic communication services. It covers, inter alia, access to network elements and associated facilities, which may involve the connection of equip- ment, by fixed or non-fixed means (this includes, in particular, access to the local loop and to facilities and services necessary to provide services over the local loop); access to physical infrastructure including buildings, ducts, and masts; access to relevant software systems including operational support systems; access to numbering translation or systems offering equivalent functionality; access to fixed and mobile networks, in particular for roaming; access to conditional access systems for digital televisions services; and access to virtual network services;

(i) "end-user" means a user not providing public communication networks or publicly available electronic communica- tion services;

(j) "local loop" means the physical circuit connecting the network termination point at the subscriber's premises to the main distribution frame or equivalent facility in the fixed public communication network.

Article 232. Regulatory Authority

1. Each Party shall ensure that regulatory authorities for electronic communication services shall be legally distinct and functionally independent from any supplier of electronic communication services. If a Party retains ownership or control of a supplier providing electronic communication networks or services, such Party shall ensure the effective structural separation of the regulatory function from activities associated with ownership or control.

2. Each Party shall ensure that the regulatory authority shall be sufficiently empowered to regulate the sector. The tasks to be undertaken by a regulatory authority shall be made public in an easily accessible and clear form, in particular where those tasks are assigned to more than one body.

3. Each Party shall ensure that the decisions of and the procedures used by the regulatory authorities are impartial with respect to all market participants and transparent.

4. The regulatory authority shall have the power to carry out an analysis of relevant product and service markets susceptible to an ex ante regulation. Where the regulatory authority is required to determine under Article 234 of this Agreement whether to impose, maintain, amend or withdraw obligations it shall determine on the basis of a market analysis whether the relevant market is effectively competitive.

5. Where the regulatory authority determines that a relevant market is not effectively competitive, it shall identify and designate services suppliers with significant market power on that market and shall impose, maintain or amend specific regulatory obligations referred to in Article 234 of this Agreement, as appropriate. Where the regulatory authority concludes that the market is effectively competitive it shall not impose or maintain any of the regulatory obligations referred to in Article 234 of this Agreement.

6. Each Party shall ensure that a services supplier affected by the decision of a regulatory authority shall have a right to appeal against that decision to an appeal body that is independent of the parties involved in the decision. Each Party shall ensure that the merits of the case are duly taken into account. Pending the outcome of any such appeal, the decision of the regulatory authority shall stand, unless the appeal body decides otherwise. Where the appeal body is not judicial in character, written reasons for its decision shall always be given and its decisions shall also be subject to review by an impartial and independent judicial authority. Decisions taken by appeal bodies shall be effectively enforced.

7. Each Party shall ensure that where the regulatory authorities intend to take measures related to any of the provisions of this Sub-Section and which have a significant impact to the relevant market, they give the interested parties the opportunity to comment on the draft measure within a reasonable period of time. Regulatory authorities shall publish their consultation procedures. The results of the consultation procedure shall be made publicly available except in the case of confidential information.

8. Each Party shall ensure that suppliers providing electronic communication networks and services provide all the information, including financial information, necessary for regulatory authorities to ensure conformity with the provisions of this Sub-Section or decisions made in accordance with this Sub-Section. Those suppliers shall provide that information promptly, on request and in accordance with the timelines and level of detail required by the regulatory authority. The information requested by the regulatory authority shall be proportionate to the performance of that task. The regulatory authority shall give the reasons justifying its request for information.

Article 233. Authorisation to Provide Electronic Communication Services

1. Each Party shall ensure that the provision of services shall, as much as possible, be authorised following mere notification.

2. Each Party shall ensure that a licence can be required to address issues of attributions of numbers and frequencies. The terms and conditions for such licences shall be made publicly available.

3. Each Party shall ensure that where a licence is required:

(a) all the licensing criteria and a reasonable period of time normally required to reach a decision concerning an applica- tion for a licence shall be made publicly available;

(b) the reasons for the denial of a licence shall be made known in writing to the applicant upon request;

(c) the applicant shall be able to seek recourse before an appeal body in case a licence is unduly denied; and

(d) licence fees (1) required by any Party for granting a licence shall not exceed the administrative costs normally incurred in the management, control and enforcement of the applicable licences. Licence fees for the use of radio spectrum and numbering resources are not subject to the requirements of this paragraph.

(1) Licence fees do not include payments for auction, tendering or other non-discriminatory means of awarding concessions, or mandated contributions to universal service provision.

Article 234. Access and Interconnection

1. Each Party shall ensure that any services suppliers authorised to provide electronic communication services shall have the right and obligation to negotiate access and interconnection with suppliers of publicly available electronic communication networks and services. Access and interconnection should, in principle, be agreed on the basis of commercial negotiation between the services suppliers concerned.

  • 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