Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment in support of negotiations of deep comprehensive free trade areas (DCFTA) between the EU and respectively Georgia and the Republic of Moldova

Description:

Conducted with the European Commission funding TSIA project focuses on the trade and trade-related provisions under negotiation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The project examines economic, social and environmental issues that could be affected by DCFTA in the EU and respectively, in Georgia and Moldova (as well as in other neighbouring countries). With such a study, the EU will be aware of all areas of both positive and negative effects of a possible DCFTA and can therefore adapt its approach towards the negotiations. It could take sensitive issues into account in the provisions of the DCFTA, or alternatively, it can develop complementary policies at different levels to enhance the positive effects of the DCFTA or mitigate potential negative effects. In short, it will help the EU to develop policies that contribute to sustainable development.  The project is led by ECORYS (the Netherlands) in cooperation with CASE, CASE Moldova and CASE Georgia.

General Objectives

The project aims to:

• Assess impact of trade and trade-related provisions under negotiation of DCFTA on economic, social and environmental issues in the EU and both Moldova and Georgia.
• Propose measures (trade or non-trade) to maximise the benefits of the FTAs and prevent or minimise potential negative impacts.
• Include a reference to the EU-Turkey Customs Union and assess the impact of each of the future FTAs on the Customs Union's functioning. 

Project Structure and Involvement of CASE

A challenge for this study is to ensure consistency, coherence and efficiency between the two modules of the study (the DCFTA EU-Georgia and the DCFTA EU-Moldova), while at the same having in mind specific context and issues of each module. There is one team leader who oversees the process and ensures consistency and coherence between the two modules; two deputy team leaders who are each responsible for one module (either Georgia or Moldova); and separate teams for each of the modules. However, these teams partly overlap when it concerns the overall analysis, as well as the EU analysis in order to increase efficiency. 

Not only there is leadership and a clear division of responsibilities between the team members, but also smooth communication between all parties involved. This communication is essential for ensuring quality and for identifying risks, in order for these risks to be addressed as early in the process as possible.

CASE role in the project involves, but is not limited to: environmental and sectoral analysis, coordinating environmental analysis and social analysis in Georgia and Moldova and organization of workshops in Georgia and Moldova. 

Project Output

The expected outcomes include:

• Draft inception report
• Draft interim report
• Final report
• (Workshops in Georgia and Moldova)

Sponsor:

European Commission DG Trade

Partners:

ECORYS (project leader)
CASE Moldova
CASE Georgia
IIDE (sub-contracted)