Development of trade among Southeast European countries is an important element in building closer trade, economic and political relations with the EU, said European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, who will participate in the Bucharest meeting with Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
The prime ministers of eight Southeast European countries will meet tomorrow to open talks on a multilateral agreement on free trade to be established by expanding the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) to include four more countries.
Rehn said that the initiative on a single free trade zone would help the countries prepare for economic cooperation which he said was an integral part of EU membership and a good exercise in economic cooperation in preparations for EU membership.
The establishment of the free trade zone in no way replaces the countries' European prospects but complements them by preparing the countries for closer economic integration with the EU, Rehn added.