The EU will benefit from DCFTA immediately, while Moldova needs to implement the reforms

No. At the entry into force the trade conditions for goods and services, as well as in establishment will be immediately improved for Moldova, facilitating trade and investment. Moldovan enterprises will have access to the EU market without transition periods. It is correct to say, however, that not all goods will be able to enter the EU immediately, just like now under Autonomous Trade Preferences (ATP). The reason is that Moldova has to improve its sanitary and phytosanitary framework in order to be able to export products of animal origin to the EU. So it is only this group of products which currently cannot access the EU market and depends on reforms. These reforms are planned under DCFTA and aim to lead to opening of EU market for such goods from Moldova as well.

It is also partly correct that the EU will benefit from DCFTA without restrictions in Moldova. Moldovan Government negotiated transition periods for liberalisation, as well as quantitative restrictions for some products (often in sectors which will undergo reforms in sanitary and phytosanitary regime). So EU access to Moldovan market is not unrestricted, although it respects the historic trade flows, so that current level of trade is not disrupted. These arrangements are subject to monitoring and review by the parties in the future.