How will the Association Agreement change the lives of Moldovan consumers?

Consumer spending accounts for 92.9% of GDP, so consumer welfare is crucial for the economy. Moldovan consumers currently face low levels of information, dangerous products and services on the market, contracts that harm their interests and a complicated process for claiming compensation.

Under the Agreement, they will enjoy the same rights as the EU's 500 million citizens. They will be able to file complaints in Moldova about products bought in the EU, and vice versa. The RAPEX alert system will speed up the withdrawal of dangerous products, while financial and electronic services will be better supervised and e-commerce protection will rise substantially. Consumers will also get clearer information on returns, protection organisations, complaints and product details. Possible future options include 24/7 call centres, a dedicated website, online petitions and mobile apps. The material was funded by a US State Department grant.