CROATIA IS ABLE TO EXPORT GREATER QUANTITIES OF WINE TO EU

ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - Croatia will be able to export much bigger quantities of wine without customs tariffs by signing an additional protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU on mutual concessions on certain wines and alcoholic beverages. The protocol was signed in Zagreb Friday by a member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Franz Fischler, and Croatia's Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic. Croatia will be able to export 800,000 hectolitres without customs duty, while import from the European Union without tariffs will gradually increase from 8,000 to 20,000 hectolitres within the next five years. The European Union in November 2000 unilaterally liberated its market for Croatian products, apart from wine and beef. This preferential trade regime has been kept in the SAA whereby Croatia is obliged to gradually open its market to EU products. Franz Fischler told journalists he used his two-day-long visit to Croatia to discuss agriculture, one of the most sensitive areas in the adjustment to European standards, with the political leaders. Fischler said he had gained a better insight into the agricultural sector in Croatia. The main problems which Croatia faces include the fact that a good part of agricultural areas is mine-infested, as well as issues faced by transitional countries, unorganised land registers and a lack of physical plans. (hina) np sb