The ninth reunion of the Republic of Moldova – European Union Association Committee in Trade Configuration was held on 29 November 2022 in Brussels, Belgium.

The event, on the part of the Republic of Moldova, was attended by representatives of all the relevant competent ministries and other authorities responsible for the areas concerned, including the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), as the governmental body responsible for implementation in the Republic of Moldova of the provisions of the Association Agreement in the field of intellectual property. Also, representatives of the main directorates general of the EU Commission were present at the meeting.

This year’s session included topics aimed at the main achievements in the implementation of the commitments following from the Association Agreement on the dimension of foreign trade, public procurement, quality infrastructure, intellectual property (IP), energy aspects, trade in services, as well as competition.

In accordance with the agenda of the reunion, the Director General of AGEPI Eugeniu Rusu and Victoria Plesca, Head of the International Relations Division within AGEPI, presented the report on the most important developments in the field of intellectual property at the legislative and institutional level recorded since the last meeting of the Committee, especially those with reference to Law No. 230/2022 on Copyright and Related Rights developed in order to harmonize the provisions of the legislation in this field with the regulations of the relevant community acquis. AGEPI representatives also informed the European partners about the institution’s initiatives for the next period. The results of the 8th reunion of the European Union - Republic of Moldova Geographical Indications Sub-Committee, which took place on November 22, were also reported during the reunion.

The reunion of the Association Committee in Trade Configuration is one of the most important events that is organized annually and has the role of addressing the most significant progress, as well as challenges in the implementation of the DCFTA Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area component of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union.