LJUBLJANA, Jan 2 (Hina) - Upon being admitted to the European Union in five months' time, Slovenia's agriculture and food-processing industry might encounter major difficulties due to the country's ties to the former Yugoslav markets,
Agriculture Minister Franci But has said, adding that goods from Croatia and Macedonia might threaten Slovene production on the domestic market due to lower customs duties.
LJUBLJANA, Jan 2 (Hina) - Upon being admitted to the European Union in
five months' time, Slovenia's agriculture and food-processing industry
might encounter major difficulties due to the country's ties to the
former Yugoslav markets, Agriculture Minister Franci But has said,
adding that goods from Croatia and Macedonia might threaten Slovene
production on the domestic market due to lower customs duties.#L#
"We expect the European Commission to put in agreements it has with
Croatia and Macedonia the quotas we have with them on the basis of
free trade agreements," But said in an interview with Delo daily of
Saturday. He explained that the prices of Croatian and Macedonian
produce might threaten Slovene manufacturers due to the stabilisation
and association agreements they have with Brussels.
But added that owing to its familiarity with the markets, Slovenia
might get a heftier share of the European export quota to Macedonia
and Croatia.
(Hina) ha