(1)

Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 (2) established a specific scheme of autonomous trade preferences for the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter "Moldova"). That scheme gives all products originating in Moldova free access to the Union market, except for certain agricultural products listed in Annex I to that Regulation for which limited concessions have been granted either in the form of exemption from customs duties within the limit of tariff quotas or of reduction of customs duties.

(2)

In the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the EU-Moldova ENP Action Plan and the Eastern Partnership, Moldova has adopted an ambitious agenda for political association and further economic integration with the Union. Moldova has also already made strong progress on regulatory approximation leading to convergence with Union laws and standards.

(3)

Negotiations on a new Association Agreement, including the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area between the Union and Moldova, started in January 2010 and were finalised in July 2013. That Agreement provides for the full liberalisation of bilateral trade in wine.

(4)

In order to support the efforts of Moldova in accordance with the ENP and the Eastern Partnership, and to provide an attractive and reliable market for its wine exports, the import of wine from Moldova into the Union should be liberalised without delay.

(5)

In order to ensure the continuation of trade flows from Moldova and legal certainty for economic operators, it is necessary that the autonomous trade preferences apply without interruption until the date set for their expiry in Regulation (EC) No 55/2008.

(6)

Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

in Article 16, the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs are deleted;

(2)

in the table in point 1 of Annex I, the last row concerning order No 09.0514 "Wine of fresh grapes other than sparkling wine" is deleted.