Date: 2025-09-24Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1957 of 18 September 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Association Committee in Trade Configuration established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and their Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part, as regards the reduction and elimination of customs duties
**Executive Summary**
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1957 outlines the position to be taken by the European Union in the Association Committee in Trade Configuration concerning the Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova. The decision focuses on the reduction and elimination of customs duties and enters into force on September 18, 2025. This is in light of the end of ATM's on July 24, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Association Agreement Framework:**
* The Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova entered into force on 1 July 2016 via Council Decision (EU) 2014/492.
* Article 147(4) and Article 438(3) and (4) of the Agreement allows the Association Committee in Trade Configuration to decide on customs duty reduction and elimination.
* **Customs Duties and Trade Liberalisation:**
* The Association Committee in Trade Configuration will adopt a decision on the reduction and elimination of customs duties during 2025.
* Autonomous trade measures (ATMs) for Moldova were adopted by the Union to liberalise trade in light of the war against Ukraine, measures that ended on July 24, 2025.
* Following discussions between the parties, an agreement was reached to broaden the elimination of customs duties and support Moldova's alignment with the Union Acquis.
* **Decision Implementation:**
* The EU's position in the Association Committee will be based on the draft decision attached to this Council Decision.
* The Council Decision enters into force on September 18, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Republic of Moldova**
* **Impact**: Reduction and elimination of customs duties. Further support of alignment with the Union Acquis, supporting accession negotiations with the Union.
* **Action Required**: Align policies and procedures to take advantage of the trade concessions and continue alignment with the Union acquis.
**European Union**
* **Impact**: Further development of trade relations with Moldova, simplification of customs procedures, and contribution to stability in the region.
* **Action Required**: Implement the decision of the Association Committee to reduce and eliminate customs duties.
Key Entities Referenced
Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova: A trade agreement that governs economic relations, including trade liberalization, between the EU and Moldova.
Association Committee in Trade Configuration: A committee established under the Association Agreement to make decisions on trade-related issues, including customs duties.
Republic of Moldova: One of the parties involved in the Association Agreement, seeking closer economic ties with the EU and accession negotiations.
European Union: One of the parties involved in the Association Agreement, aiming to foster trade and support Moldova's alignment to its acquis.
Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs): Unilateral trade liberalisation measures adopted by the EU for Moldova following Russia's war against Ukraine, later superseded by broader agreements.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1957 24.9.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1957
of 18 September 2025
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Association Committee in Trade
Configuration established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the
European Atomic Energy Community, and their Member States of the one part, and the Republic of
Moldova, of the other part, as regards the reduction and elimination of customs duties
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4), first subparagraph,
in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and their
Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part(1)(‘the Agreement’) was concluded by
the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2014/492(2) and entered into force on 1 July 2016.
(2) Under Article 147(4) and Article 438(3) and (4) of the Agreement, the Association Committee in Trade
Configuration may adopt a decision on the reduction and elimination of a customs duty on a good which will
supersede any duty rate or staging category determined pursuant to the Schedules of the Union or Moldova included
in Annex XV to the Agreement for that good.
(3) Following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Union adopted unilateral trade liberalisation measures for
Moldova through its autonomous trade measures (ATMs) of 18 July 2022(3), which were renewed in 2023(4) and
2024(5). Following the expiry of the ATMs on 24 July 2025, discussions between the parties have resulted in an
agreement to broaden the scope of elimination of customs duties and support Moldova’s alignment to the Union
acquis which is an important part of Moldova’s accession negotiations with the Union.
(4) The Association Committee in Trade Configuration is to adopt a decision on the reduction and elimination of
customs duties under Article 147(4) of the Agreement during the course of 2025.
(1) OJ L 260, 30.8.2014, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2014/492/oj.
(2) Council Decision 2014/492/EU of 16 June 2014 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of
the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of
the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part (OJ L 260, 30.8.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2014/
492/oj).
(3) Regulation (EU) 2022/1279 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2022 on temporary trade-liberalisation
measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under the Association Agreement
between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Republic of Moldova, of the other part (OJ L 195, 22.7.2022, p. 6, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1279/oj).
(4) Regulation (EU) 2023/1524 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 July 2023 on temporary trade-liberalisation
measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under the Association Agreement
between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Republic of Moldova, of the other part (OJ L 185, 24.7.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1524/oj).
(5) Regulation (EU) 2024/1501 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on temporary trade-liberalisation
measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under the Association Agreement
between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the
Republic of Moldova, of the other part (OJ L, 2024/1501, 29.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1501/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1957/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 24.9.2025
(5) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Association Committee in Trade
Configuration, as the decision of that Committee will be binding on the Union,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Association Committee in Trade Configuration established by the
Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and their Member
States of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part shall be based on the draft decision of the Association
Committee in Trade Configuration attached to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 18 September 2025.
For the Council
The President
L. AAGAARD
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1957/oj