ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - The European Commission on Wednesday decided to propose the expansion of existing autonomous trade benefits for countries in the western Balkans, the EC delegation in Croatia said in a statement. The EC has
proposed the revocation of remaining tariff restrictions for some industrial products from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia in view of facilitating access to the market of agricultural products, the statement said. It has also been proposed that the benefits expand to Kosovo, that tariff quotas be guaranteed for Montenegro's aluminium products, and that all benefits be put within a joint set of regulations. The statement points out the promotion of trade and cooperation is one the most fundamental elements of the European Union's policy towards the western Balkans, which is included in the stabilisation and association process and the Stabili
ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - The European Commission on Wednesday
decided to propose the expansion of existing autonomous trade
benefits for countries in the western Balkans, the EC delegation in
Croatia said in a statement.
The EC has proposed the revocation of remaining tariff restrictions
for some industrial products from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and
Croatia in view of facilitating access to the market of
agricultural products, the statement said.
It has also been proposed that the benefits expand to Kosovo, that
tariff quotas be guaranteed for Montenegro's aluminium products,
and that all benefits be put within a joint set of regulations.
The statement points out the promotion of trade and cooperation is
one the most fundamental elements of the European Union's policy
towards the western Balkans, which is included in the stabilisation
and association process and the Stability Pact for Southeast
Europe.
The European Council at a Lisbon May 23-24 meeting decided that
agreements on stabilisation and association should be preceded by
an asymmetrical liberalisation of trade.
The EC delegation statement says EU countries are the most
important trade partner to countries in the region. The mentioned
changes will exert a small impact on the EU market, but can make a
considerable contribution to efforts aimed at giving impetus to
economic activity and trade in the western Balkans.
Opening the EU market to products from those countries may have a
positive impact on direct foreign investments and contribute to a
political and economic stabilisation of the region, the statement
adds.
Even though the current level of free approach to the EU market is
high at about 80 percent, there is room for further liberalisation.
The import of some industrial products continues to depend on
tariff ceilings, while agricultural products are subjected to
limitations.
The EC emphasises a new joint set of regulations would make EU's
trade regime towards the western Balkans more transparent. The new
measures would be in force two years, encouraging countries to
pursue with effective economic reforms and regional trade
cooperation.
The EC has proposed these measures as part of the stabilisation and
association process only for the western Balkans, in line with the
region's specific situation, and will not propose them for other
regions nor represent a precedent for EU's trade policy towards
third countries.
(hina) ha jn