Workshop on rules of preferential origin and their proofs organised in Moldova

On 3-4 December took place the workshop on rules of preferential origin and their proofs. This event has been organised in cooperation with the EU-funded project “Support to the DCFTA process in the Republic of Moldova” (DCFTA project). The event was attended by more than 50 participants representing Moldovan central government entities (i.e. Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Customs Service, Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the European Commission, the EU Delegation to Moldova, economic agents, business associations as well as experts and customs service delegates from Georgia and Ukraine.

The aim of the meeting was to cover the ‘rules of origin’ aspect of the DCFTA and Autonomous Trade Measures between the EU and Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The meeting would help custom authorities to comply with EU standards in terms of preferential origin. Participants had the opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss issues that may arise in the application of preferential rules of origin.

In the first day of the workshop, Guillaume Dorey, Directorate-General Taxation and Customs Union, presented an overview on rules of origin which covered principles and useful tools relevant to the field. The Export Helpdesk has been introduced as a common portal to inform on the EU tariffs, requirements, preferential arrangements, quotas and statistics affecting business.

Anna Folkesson, Customs attaché from Sweden, highlighted the importance of having in place a framework for preferential trade between the EU and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Particularly, the presentation emphasised the negative effects various free trade agreements might create and concluded the significance of introducing the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin.

Jacek Kroczynski, Expert in the Customs Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance of Poland, made a general introduction into the DCFTA and the ATM agreement. Specific attention was paid to how these would impact the economic situation of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

The second day of the workshop hosted Roger Teney, Fiscal Expert on Customs & Excise of the Ministry of Finance of Belgium, who made a practical demonstration regarding the proofs of origin, in particular, the control procedure. Jacek Kroczynski closed the workshop on a practical note with a presentation on the issuance procedure of EUR.1 and the approved exporter status (EU exporters).

Please find attached below the presentation from the workshop: