Brussels Launches Screening of Moldova’s Agriculture Legislation

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the screening is being carried out by a working group from the ministry together with experts from the European Commission. The screening process of Moldovan legislation on agriculture, rural development, fisheries, and aquaculture will begin on Monday in Brussels, reports infotag.md. “The screening will begin with Chapter 13 – ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture,’ which holds strategic importance for Moldova’s firm commitment to sustainable water resource management, strengthening food security, and stimulating economic development in rural communities that directly depend on the fisheries and aquaculture sector, as well as regulating the common market and combating illegal fishing,” stated Ina Butucel, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry. According to her, around 20 pieces of European Union legislation are to be reviewed and transposed as part of the legislative harmonization process with the acquis communautaire. However, the immediate priorities are the completion of the National Aquaculture Program and the establishment of an effective control system to prevent the import of fish products obtained through illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. As part of the screening process, the European Commission will assess the Republic of Moldova’s level of preparedness in this area in view of its prospective accession to the European Union. The activity is carried out with the support of the “Moldovan-German Dialogue” on agricultural policy (APD Moldova) project, within the framework of the Bilateral Cooperation Program financed by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity of Germany, which supports the Government of the Republic of Moldova in the process of European integration in the field of agriculture and rural development.