Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova sign DCFTA

Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova on June 27 at an emergency meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Brussels are to sign an agreement on a deep and comprehensive free trade with the EU (DCFTA), reported by Western media.

Currently, there is an intensive preparation for the summit, said in Kiev the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, noting that the DCFTA conference passing in the capital of Ukraine is intended to explain the essence of this agreement and reject the insinuation of Russia on the document’s threats to the sovereignty of the Eastern Partnership members.

Bildt noted with satisfaction that the new Ukrainian government has consistently resolved issues hindering the signing of the agreement.

At the same time, the head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry said that negotiations with Armenia were suspended in connection with its decision on accession to the Customs Union.

Of the six Eastern Partnership countries, in addition to Armenia, not ready to join DCFTA are Azerbaijan and Belarus. Belarus is a part of the Customs Union and the official Baku says it is not ready to negotiate as opposed to the signatories of the Association Agreement with the EU it is not a member of the WTO.

"The signing of the Agreement on the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area will open new opportunities of the economies of the Eastern Partnership - will allow them to increase the competitiveness of their products through the introduction of regulatory reforms in the area of ​​trade, the application of European standards and requirements, said the deputy head of the EU Directorate General for Trade Peter Balas.

"The agreement will also boost exports to the huge EU market, create new jobs, bring in these countries due to new foreign investors increase investment attractiveness," he said.

Statistics of Eastern Partnership countries shows that even most of their foreign trade is with the Euro zone.

For example, the share of the EU now accounts for 45% of Moldavian foreign trade turnover. The same volume of trade with the EU has Azerbaijan.

 Formerly a member of the European Commission's European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule said that the creation of a secure and predictable legal environment DCFTA is inextricably linked with the strengthening of the rule of law and the consolidation of democratic institutions, including the commitment to shared values​. -0 –