BRUSSELS - EC MAKES NEW SUGGESTIONS TO LIBERALISE CRO. MARKET

BRUSSELS, April 25 (Hina) - The European Commission has outlined new suggestions for a faster liberalisation of the Croatian market for some products during technical negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Croatia in Brussels on Wednesday, Croatian negotiators have said unofficially. The sensitive products include chocolate and some fruit and vegetables, pasta and sugar, according to unofficial reports made during a break in the session which began this morning. The same Croatian source maintains France is behind the new suggestions. The Brussels negotiations should provide an answer as to how fast the Croatian market will open for European products, given that the European Union opened its market asymmetrically, providing for Croatia to export, duty- and quota-free, its entire industrial and agricultural product, with the exception of wine, fish and beef. For some products Croatia is willing to open its market at once, but has requested a gradual opening for sensitive products, agricultural in particular, over a transitional period. The negotiations wrap up in the afternoon. If all issues are successfully harmonised, the SAA will be ready for initialling, although not before another official round of negotiations which should ratify what has been agreed on the technical level. (hina) ha sb