Romania parliament ratifies EU-Moldova association agreement

Bucharest, July 3 (IANS) Romania's Senate Thursday approved the draft law to ratify the European Union (EU) association agreements with Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

The Deputies' Chamber, the lower house of parliament, adopted the draft laws for the ratification Wednesday.

Romania's parliament thus becomes the first legislature of the EU member states to complete the ratification procedure of the association agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, Xinhua reported.

"The association agreement is an indisputable quality leap as regards the framework that was until now governing the relationship of the Republic of Moldova and the EU," the Senate said.

The Senate added that the agreement includes a significant trade component, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, which supposes not only the liberalisation of the trade with the EU, but also the compliance of Moldova with the regulations and standards already enforced on the European common market.

Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia Friday signed association agreements with the EU on the sidelines of the European Council meeting in Brussels.