The ministry's current activities were discussed during the meeting. In particular, Yevgeny Shevchuk was briefed on the interim progress in the negotiations with EU representatives on determining a special trade formula for the Pridnestrovian exporters. It should be recalled that owing to the EU association agreement concluded by Moldova, the autonomous trade preferences for Pridnestrovian exporters expire on1 January 2016, and as a result Pridnestrovie's economic agents may lose the opportunity to trade with European partners.
The acting foreign minister, Vitaliy Ignatyev, noted that Pridnestrovie has been negotiating this issue with European partners for already three years. «Over this period there have been a lot of meetings with the EU chief negotiator on the DACFTA between the EU and Moldova, Luc Devigne. Our position remains unchanged: we proceed from the fact that it is necessary to create optimal conditions for the access of Pridnestrovian economic agents to EU markets," said the minister.
According to the presidential press office, the socio-humanitarian significance of this problem was highlighted at the meeting. Vitaliy Ignatyev summarised, «From 1 January 2016 our economic agents will face a new reality. And we do not want it to become another challenge, threat or a factor destabilising the social position in our country.»
The president was also informed about Pridnestrovie’s preparations for the annual Confidence Building Conference, which will take place under the auspices of the OSCE in Bavaria in late October. The minister also said that the situation in the negotiation process between Tiraspol and Kishinev remains difficult and the Conference is another expert mechanism for the discussion of pressing issues. So, the agenda of the day when the Moldo-Pridnestrovian relations will be discussed includes economic and transportation issues, ecological cooperation aspects.
