ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - Croatia and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) have wrapped up negotiations which began in Zagreb last October and initialled a free trade agreement, the Croatian Economy Ministry said in a statement on
Friday.
ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - Croatia and EFTA (European Free Trade
Association) have wrapped up negotiations which began in Zagreb
last October and initialled a free trade agreement, the Croatian
Economy Ministry said in a statement on Friday.#L#
The general part of the agreement was initialled in Geneva by the
head of Croatia's negotiating delegation, Assistant Economy
Minister Olgica Spevec, while the part referring to the
liberalisation of trade in agricultural products was initialled by
Assistant Economy Minister Miroslav Bozic.
The agreement is expected to be signed in mid-June, at a ministerial
conference of EFTA member states in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and comes
into effect on Jan. 1, 2002.
Said Spevec, "The successful termination of negotiations with EFTA
in a relatively short time shows the willingness of EFTA member
states to expand all forms of economic cooperation with Croatia and
acknowledge it as an equal partner, ready to join Europe at any
moment."
The agreement envisages the establishment of free trade zones
between Croatia and EFTA members, and duty-free trade in industrial
products. EFTA lifts all tariffs on the import of Croatian goods
once the agreement comes into force. Croatia will simultaneously
revoke tariffs for most industrial products, with the remaining 20
percent to become duty-free over the next five years.
EFTA negotiators have stressed that from an economic point of view,
the signing of the agreement will open EFTA markets to Croatia's
export and provide conditions for better economic cooperation and
investing in Croatia.
EFTA includes Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Island.
(hina) ha