On 15 June 2009, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Republic of Moldova for the conclusion of a new agreement between the Union and the Republic of Moldova to replace the partnership and cooperation agreement1.

Taking into account the close historical relationship and progressively closer links between the Parties, as well as their desire to strengthen and widen relations in an ambitious and innovative way, the negotiations on 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 (‘the Agreement’), were successfully finalised by the initialling of the Agreement on 29 November 2013.

The Agreement should be signed on behalf of the Union and applied in part before its entry into force, on a provisional basis in accordance with Article 464 of the Agreement, pending the completion of the procedures for its conclusion.

The provisional application of parts of the Agreement does not prejudge the allocation of competences between the Union and its Member States in accordance with the Treaties.

Pursuant to Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, it is appropriate for the Council to authorise the Commission to approve modifications to the Agreement to be adopted by the Association Committee in its Trade configuration, as set out in Article 438(4) of the Agreement, as proposed by the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee pursuant to Article 306 of the Agreement.

It is appropriate to set out the relevant procedures for the protection of geographical indications which are given protection pursuant to the Agreement.

The Agreement should not be construed as conferring rights or imposing obligations which can be directly invoked before Union or Member State courts and tribunals,