3. Cooperation may also facilitate circular migration for the benefit of development.
Article 15. Movement of Persons
1. The Parties will ensure the full implementation of:
(a) the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Moldova on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation, which entered into force on 1 January 2008; and
(b) the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Moldova on the facilitation of the issuance of visas, which entered into force on 1 January 2008, as amended on 27 June 2012.
2. The Parties shall endeavour to enhance mobility of citizens and shall take gradual steps towards the shared objective of a visa-free regime in due course, provided that the conditions for well-managed and secure mobility, set out in the Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation, are in place.
Article 16. Preventing and Combating Organised Crime, Corruption and other Illegal Activities
1. The Parties shall cooperate on preventing and combating all forms of criminal and illegal activities, organised or otherwise, including those of a transnational character, such as:
(a) smuggling and trafficking in human beings;
(b) smuggling and trafficking in goods, including in small arms and illicit drugs;
(c) illegal economic and financial activities such as counterfeiting, fiscal fraud and public procurement fraud;
(d) fraud, as referred to in Title VI (Financial Assistance, and Anti-Fraud and Control Provisions) of this Agreement, in projects funded by international donors;
(e) active and passive corruption, both in the private and public sector, including the abuse of functions and trading in influence;
(f) forging documents and submitting false statements; and (g) cyber crime.
2. The Parties shall enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation among law enforcement bodies, including strengthening cooperation between the European Police Office (Europol) and the relevant authorities of the Republic of Moldova. The Parties are committed to implementing effectively the relevant international standards, and in particular those enshrined in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) of 2000 and its three Protocols, the United Nations Convention against Corruption of 2003, and relevant Council of Europe instruments on preventing and combating corruption.
Article 17. Tackling Illicit Drugs
1. Within their respective powers and competencies, the Parties shall cooperate to ensure a balanced and integrated approach towards drug issues. Drug policies and actions shall be aimed at reinforcing structures for tackling illicit drugs, reducing the supply of, trafficking in and the demand for illicit drugs, coping with the health and social consequences of drug abuse, as well as at a more effective prevention of diversion of chemical precursors used for the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
2. The Parties shall agree on the necessary methods of cooperation to attain those objectives. Actions shall be based on commonly agreed principles along the lines of the relevant international conventions, the EU Drugs Strategy (2013-20), the Political Declaration on the guiding principles of drug demand reduction, approved by the United Nations General Assembly Twentieth Special Session on Drugs in June 1998.
Article 18. Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism
1. The Parties shall cooperate in order to prevent the use of their financial and relevant non-financial systems to launder the proceeds of criminal activities, as well as for the purpose of financing of terrorism. That cooperation extends to the recovery of assets or funds derived from the proceeds of crime.
2. Cooperation in this area shall allow exchanges of relevant information within the framework of respective legisla- tions and the adoption of appropriate standards to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism, equivalent to those adopted by relevant international bodies active in this area, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF).
Article 19. Combating Terrorism
The Parties agree to cooperate in the prevention and suppression of acts of terrorism in full respect for the rule of law, international human rights, and refugee and humanitarian law and in accordance with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy of 2006 as well as their respective laws and regulations. They shall do so, in particular in the framework of the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001), 1540 (2004) and 1904 (2009) and other relevant UN instruments, and applicable international conventions and instruments:
(a) by exchanging information on terrorist groups and their support networks in accordance with international and national law;
(b) by exchanging views on terrorism trends and on means and methods of combating terrorism, including in technical areas and training, and by exchanging experiences in respect of the prevention of terrorism; and
(c) by sharing best practices in the area of protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism.
Article 20. Legal Cooperation
1. The Parties agree to develop judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters as regards the negotiation, ratification and implementation of multilateral conventions on civil judicial cooperation and, in particular, the conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the field of international legal cooperation and litigation as well as the protection of children.
2. As regards judicial cooperation in criminal matters, the Parties will seek to enhance cooperation on mutual legal assistance. That would include, where appropriate, accession to, and implementation of, the relevant international instruments of the UN and the Council of Europe and closer cooperation with Eurojust.
Title IV. ECONOMIC AND OTHER SECTORAL COOPERATION
Chapter 1. Public Administration Reform
Article 21.
Cooperation shall focus on the development of efficient and accountable public administration in the Republic of Moldova, with the aim of supporting implementation of the rule of law, ensuring that state institutions work for the benefit of the entire population of the Republic of Moldova, and promoting the smooth development of relations between the Republic of Moldova and its partners. Particular attention will be given to the modernisation and development of executive functions, with the goal of providing quality services to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
Article 22. Cooperation Shall Cover the Following Areas:
(a) the institutional and functional development of public authorities, in order to increase the efficiency of their activity and to ensure an efficient, participatory and transparent decision-making and strategic planning process;
(b) modernisation of public services, including the introduction and implementation of e-Governance, with a view to increasing the efficiency of service delivery to citizens and reducing the costs of doing business;
(c) creation of a professional civil service based on the principle of managerial accountability and effective delegation of authority, as well as fair and transparent recruitment, training, assessment and remuneration;
(d) effective and professional human resource management and career development; and
(e) the promotion of ethical values in the civil service.
Article 23.
Cooperation shall cover all levels of public administration, including local administration.
Chapter 2. Economic Dialogue
Article 24.
1. The EU and the Republic of Moldova shall facilitate the process of economic reform by improving the understanding of the fundamentals of their respective economies. Cooperation between the Parties shall aim to promote economic policies pertinent to functioning market economies as well as the formulation and implementation of those economic policies.
2. The Republic of Moldova shall strive to establish a functioning market economy and to gradually approximate its policies to those of the EU, in accordance with the guiding principles of sound macroeconomic and fiscal policies, including central bank independence and price stability, sound public finances and a sustainable balance of payments.
Article 25.
1. To those ends, the Parties agree to cooperate in the following areas:
(a) exchange of information on macroeconomic policies and structural reforms as well as on macroeconomic performance and prospects, and on strategies for economic development;
(b) joint analysis of economic issues of mutual interest, including economic policy measures and the instruments for implementing them, such as methods for economic forecasting and elaboration of strategic policy documents, with a view to strengthening the policy-making of the Republic of Moldova in line with EU principles and practices; and
(c) exchange of expertise in the macroeconomic and macrofinancial sphere, including public finances, financial sector developments and regulation, monetary and exchange rate policies and frameworks, external financial assistance, and economic statistics.
2. Cooperation will also include exchange of information concerning the principles and functioning of the European economic and monetary union.
Article 26.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 3. Company Law, Accounting and Auditing and Corporate Governance
Article 27.
1. Recognising the importance of an effective set of rules and practices in the areas of company law and corporate governance, as well as in accounting and auditing, for the creation of a fully-functioning market economy and for fostering trade, the Parties agree to cooperate:
(a) on the protection of shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders in line with EU rules in this area;
(b) on the introduction of relevant international standards at national level and gradual approximation of the rules of the Republic of Moldova with those of the EU in the field of accounting and auditing; and
(c) on further development of corporate governance policy in line with international standards, as well as gradual approximation of the rules of the Republic of Moldova with the EU rules and recommendations in this area.
2. The relevant EU rules and recommendations are listed in Annex II to this Agreement.
Article 28.
The Parties will aim at sharing information and expertise on both existing systems and relevant new developments in those areas. In addition, the Parties will seek to improve information exchange between the business registers of Member States and the national register of companies of the Republic of Moldova.
Article 29.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 30.
The Republic of Moldova shall carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex II to this Agreement according to the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 4. Employment, Social Policy and Equal Opportunities
Article 31.
The Parties shall strengthen their dialogue and cooperation on promoting the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Decent Work Agenda, employment policy, health and safety at work, social dialogue, social protection, social inclusion, gender equality and anti-discrimination, and social rights, and thereby contribute to the promotion of more and better jobs, poverty reduction, enhanced social cohesion, sustainable development and improved quality of life.
Article 32.
Cooperation, based on exchange of information and best practices, may cover a selected number of issues to be identified among the following areas:
(a) poverty reduction and the enhancement of social cohesion;
(b) employment policy, aiming at more and better jobs with decent working conditions, including with a view to reducing the informal economy and informal employment;
(c) promoting active labour market measures and efficient employment services to modernise the labour markets and to adapt to labour market needs;
(d) fostering more inclusive labour markets and social safety systems that integrate disadvantaged people, including people with disabilities and people from minority groups;
(e) efficient management of labour migration, aiming at strengthening its positive impact on development;
(f) equal opportunities, aiming at enhancing gender equality and ensuring equal opportunities between women and men, as well as combating discrimination on all grounds;
(g) social policy, aiming at enhancing the level of social protection, including social assistance and social insurance, and modernising social protection systems, in terms of quality, accessibility and financial sustainability;
(h) enhancing the participation of social partners and promoting social dialogue, including through strengthening the capacity of all relevant stakeholders; and
(i) promoting health and safety at work.
Article 33.
The Parties shall encourage the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society organisations and in particular social partners, in policy development and reforms in the Republic of Moldova and in the cooperation between the Parties under this Agreement.
Article 34.
The Parties shall aim at enhancing cooperation on employment and social policy matters in all relevant regional, multilateral and international fora and organisations.
Article 35.
The Parties shall promote corporate social responsibility and accountability and encourage responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the UN Global Compact and the ILO tripartite declaration of principles concerning multina- tional enterprises and social policy.
Article 36.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 37.
The Republic of Moldova shall carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex III to this Agreement according to the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 5. Consumer Protection
Article 38.
The Parties shall cooperate in order to ensure a high level of consumer protection and to achieve compatibility between their systems of consumer protection.
Article 39.
In order to achieve those objectives, the cooperation may comprise, when appropriate:
(a) aiming at the approximation of consumer legislation, based on the priorities in Annex IV to this Agreement, while avoiding barriers to trade for ensuring consumers' real choices;
(b) promoting exchange of information on consumer protection systems, including consumer legislation and its enforcement, consumer product safety, including market surveillance, consumer information systems and tools, consumer education, empowerment and consumer redress, and sales and service contracts concluded between traders and consumers;
(c) promoting training activities for administration officials and other consumer interest representatives; and (d) encouraging the development of independent consumer associations, including non-governmental consumer organ-
isations (NGOs), and contacts between consumer representatives, as well as collaboration between authorities and NGOs in the field of consumer protection.
Article 40.
The Republic of Moldova shall carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex IV to this Agreement according to the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 6. Statistics
Article 41.
The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on statistical issues, thereby contributing to the long-term objective of providing timely, internationally comparable and reliable statistical data. It is expected that a sustainable, efficient and professionally independent national statistical system shall produce information relevant for citizens, businesses and decision makers in the EU and in the Republic of Moldova, enabling them to take informed decisions on that basis. The national statistical system should respect the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, taking into account the EU acquis in statistics, including the European Statistics Code of Practice, in order to align the national statistical system with the European norms and standards.
Article 42.
Cooperation shall aim at:
(a) further strengthening the capacity of the national statistical system, focusing on the sound legal basis, production of adequate data and metadata, dissemination policy and user-friendliness, taking into account various groups of users, including public and private sectors, the academic community and other users;
(b) progressive alignment of the statistical system of the Republic of Moldova with the European Statistical System;
(c) fine-tuning of data provision to the EU, taking into account the application of relevant international and European methodologies, including classifications;
(d) enhancing the professional and management capacity of the national statistical staff to facilitate the application of EU statistical standards and to contribute to the development of the statistical system of the Republic of Moldova;
(e) exchanging experience between the Parties on the development of statistical know-how; and
(f) promoting total quality management of all statistical production processes and dissemination.
Article 43.
The Parties shall cooperate within the framework of the European Statistical System in which Eurostat is the European statistical authority. The cooperation shall include a focus on:
(a) demographic statistics, including censuses, and social statistics;
(b) agricultural statistics, including agricultural censuses and environment statistics;
(c) business statistics, including business registers and use of administrative sources for statistical purposes;
(d) macroeconomic statistics, including national accounts, foreign trade statistics, and foreign direct investment statistics; (e) energy statistics, including balances;
(f) regional statistics; and
(g) horizontal activities, including statistical classifications, quality management, training, dissemination and use of modern information technologies.
Article 44.
The Parties shall, inter alia, exchange information and expertise and shall develop their cooperation, taking into account the already accumulated experience in the reform of the statistical system launched within the framework of various assistance programmes. Efforts shall be directed towards further alignment with the EU acquis in statistics, on the basis of the national strategy for the development of the statistical system of the Republic of Moldova, and taking into account the development of the European Statistical System. The emphasis in the statistical data production process shall be the further development of sample surveys and usage of administrative records, while taking into account the need to reduce the response burden. The data shall be relevant for the designing and monitoring of policies in key areas of social and economic life.
Article 45.
A regular dialogue shall take place on the issues covered by this Chapter. To the extent possible, the activities undertaken within the European Statistical System, including training, should be open for the participation of the Republic of Moldova.
Article 46.
1. The Parties undertake to establish and revise on a periodic basis a programme of gradual approximation of the legislation of the Republic of Moldova to the EU acquis in the field of statistics.
2. The EU acquis in the field of statistics is set out in the annually updated Statistical Requirements Compendium, which is considered by the Parties as annexed to this Agreement (Annex V).
Chapter 7. Management of Public Finances: Budget Policy, Internal Control, Financial Inspection and External Audit
Article 47.
Cooperation in the field covered by this Chapter will focus on the implementation of international standards as well as EU good practice in this field, which will contribute to the development of a modern public finance management system in the Republic of Moldova, compatible with basic EU and international principles of transparency, accountability, economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
Article 48. Budget and Accounting Systems
The Parties shall cooperate in relation to:
(a) improvement and systematisation of regulatory documents on the budgetary, treasury, accounting and reporting systems and their harmonisation on the basis of international standards, respecting also good practice in the EU public sector;
(b) continuous development of multi-annual budget planning and the alignment to EU good practice;
(c) studying the practices of the European countries in inter-budget relations, in order to improve this field in the Republic of Moldova;
(d) fostering approximation of procurement procedures with existing practices in the EU; and
(e) exchange of information, experiences and good practice, including through personnel exchange and joint training in this field.
Article 49. Internal Control, Financial Inspection and External Audit
The Parties shall also cooperate in relation to:
(a) further improvement of the internal control system (including a functionally independent internal audit function) in state and local authorities by means of harmonisation with generally accepted international standards and methodologies and EU good practice;
(b) the development of an adequate financial inspection system that will complement but not duplicate the internal audit function and will ensure adequate control coverage of government income and expenditure during a transitional period and thereafter;
(c) effective cooperation between the actors involved in financial management and control, audit and inspection with the actors for budget, treasury and accounting to foster the development of governance;
(d) strengthening the competences of the Central Harmonisation Unit for the Public Internal Financial Control (PIFC);
(e) the implementation of internationally accepted external audit standards by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI); and
(f) exchange of information, experiences and good practice through, inter alia, personnel exchange and joint training in this field.
Article 50. Fight Against Fraud and Corruption
The Parties shall also cooperate in relation to: (a) exchanging information, experience and good practice;
(b) improving methods to combat and prevent fraud and corruption in the areas covered by this Chapter, including co-operation between relevant administrative bodies; and
(c) ensuring effective cooperation with the relevant EU institutions and bodies, in the case of on-the-spot checks, inspections and audits related to the management and control of EU funds, according to relevant rules and procedures.