Attachment

THE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE IN TRADE CONFIGURATION,

Having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, signed in Brussels on 27 June 2014, and in particular Article 272(3) thereof,

Whereas:

The Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), was concluded by the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2016/839^f1 and entered into force on 1 July 2016.

Article 272(1) and (2) of the Agreement stipulates that the Republic of Moldova shall submit to the Association Committee in Trade configuration a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of the legislation related to public procurement with time schedules and milestones which should include all reforms in terms of legislative approximation to the Union acquis and institutional capacity building.

Article 272(3) specifies that a favourable opinion by the Association Committee in Trade configuration is needed in order for the comprehensive roadmap to become a reference document for the process of implementation, i.e. for the legislative approximation of the legislation of the Republic of Moldova related to public procurement to the Union acquis.

Pursuant to Article 438(3) of the Agreement, the Association Committee shall have the power to adopt decisions in the cases provided for in the Agreement. Those decisions shall be binding upon the Parties, which shall take appropriate measures to implement them. The Association Committee shall adopt its decisions by agreement between the Parties.

According to Article 438(4) of the Agreement, the Association Committee shall meet in Trade configuration to address all trade and trade-related matters pursuant to Title V of the Agreement.

The roadmap on public procurement submitted by the Republic of Moldova complies with the requirements set out in Article 272(1) and (2) of the Agreement.

It is therefore appropriate for the Association Committee meeting in Trade configuration to adopt a decision giving a favourable opinion regarding the comprehensive roadmap on public procurement submitted by the Republic of Moldova,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: