COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2024/1016

of 25 March 2024

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the Carriage of Freight by Road, as regards the continuation of the Agreement

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the Carriage of Freight by Road (1) (‘the Agreement’) was signed by the Union on, and has been provisionally applied since, 29 June 2022 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2022/1165 (2) and entered into force on 21 August 2023.

(2) Article 6(1) of the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to supervise and monitor the application and implementation of the Agreement and periodically review the functioning of the Agreement in light of its objectives.

(3) By means of Decision 2/2022 of the Joint Committee (3), the duration of the Agreement was extended until 30 June 2024. Pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Agreement, the parties to the Agreement are to consult in order to assess the need for its renewal at the latest three months before the expiry of the Agreement.

(4) In order for both the Union and the Republic of Moldova to continue benefitting from the Agreement, it should be renewed until 31 December 2025.

(5) The Joint Committee, during its next meeting, is to adopt a decision on the need for a further continuation of the Agreement.

(6) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee as regards the continuation of the Agreement, as the decision of the Joint Committee will be binding on the Union.

(7) The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the draft Decision of the Joint Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the Carriage of Freight by Road (‘the Agreement’) as regards the continuation of the Agreement shall be based on the draft decision of the Joint Committee attached to this Decision.

Minor changes to the draft Decision of the Joint Committee may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union within the Joint Committee without a further decision of the Council.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 25 March 2024.

For the Council

The President

A. MARON

(1)

OJ L 181, 7.7.2022, p. 4

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2022/1165 of 27 June 2022 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the carriage of freight by road (

OJ L 181, 7.7.2022, p. 1

(3)

OJ L 79, 17.3.2023, p. 185

DRAFT

DECISION No 1/2024 OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA ON THE CARRIAGE OF FREIGHT BY ROAD

of …

as regards the continuation of the Agreement

THE JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the carriage of freight by road (1) and in particular Article 6(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) By means of Decision No 2/2022 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the carriage of freight by road of 15 December 2022 regarding the continuation of the Agreement (2), the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the Carriage of Freight by Road (‘the Agreement’) was extended until 30 June 2024.

(2) Pursuant to Article 6(2) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to be convened at the latest three months before the expiry of the Agreement in order to assess and decide the need for the continuation of the Agreement.

(3) The monitoring of the Agreement has shown that it has provided benefits in terms of trade for both the European Union and the Republic of Moldova, and that the increase of road transport services has also been beneficial to road transport operators of both parties.

(4) Together with a comparable road transport agreement signed with Ukraine, the Agreement has also significantly contributed to the export of Ukrainian goods to the European Union via the Solidarity Lanes.

(5) The prolongation of the Agreement should be understood as also contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine beyond Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It is therefore appropriate to prolong the Agreement until 31 December 2025,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Continuation of the Agreement

The Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on the Carriage of Freight by Road is hereby prolonged until 31 December 2025.

Article 2

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at …

For the Joint Committee

The Co-chairs

(1)

OJ EU L 181, 7.7.2022, p. 4

(2)

OJ EU L79, 17.3.2023, p. 185

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1016/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)