CHISINAU, July 2 (RIA Novosti) - The Moldovan parliament on Wednesday ratified the European Association Agreement.
At the end of June, Moldova and Georgia signed the agreement with the EU in Brussels, opening a free-trade zone between them. Ukraine also signed the economic part of the agreement at the same ceremony.
Moldovan parliament members were individually called to the podium to cast their vote to ratify the agreement. Fifty-nine members voted in favor. As a sign of protest against the association agreement, the Party of Communists marched out of the parliament session.
Moldova set a course toward European integration in the summer of 2009, when representatives of right and center-right factions forming the Alliance for European Integration took control of the country.
Soon after the alliance came to power Moldova and the European Union started negotiations on visa liberalization.
In November 2013, on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, Moldova initialed the Association Agreement, which also included provisions for the establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU.
Moldova's aspirations of closer ties with the European Union are met with mixed feelings within the country. According to surveys, half of the population opposes European integration due to expectations of negative economic consequences from the deal.
Moldova also has a free-trade agreement with Russia in the CIS framework. Russia has repeatedly expressed deep concern over the country's upcoming signing of the agreement with the EU, saying it would be forced to protect its market once it faces an uncontrolled flow of duty-free goods from the EU.
