ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said on Monday the European Union had made the most significant political and economic move in relation to Croatia with today's decision on the assymetrical liberalisation of
the trade regime with Croatia.
ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said on
Monday the European Union had made the most significant political
and economic move in relation to Croatia with today's decision on
the assymetrical liberalisation of the trade regime with
Croatia.#L#
According to the minister, the decision means a one-sided
liberalisation of EU-Croatia foreign trade which will enable
Croatia to export almost all industrial products to the EU duty-
free, except fish and fish products, wine, and baby-beef.
"Croatian exporters have been given the possibility to export their
products on the EU market without any restrictions and without
paying tariffs. At the same time, Croatia has the right to retain
existing tariffs and the valid tariffs regime for European
products," Fizulic said in a statement to Hina and the state
television HTV.
EU foreign ministers today passed a decision on "assymetrical"
trade measures which should encourage export from Croatia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, and Albania. The decision rescinds tariffs and quotas
for 95 percent of products. The measure will be in force through the
end of 2002.
"This is a political gesture which enables countries, Croatia
included, to jump as fast as possible on the train which is
definitely and irreversibly heading for the EU," Fizulic said
commenting on other EU trade benefits for Croatia and some other
states in the Balkans.
These cover almost all industrial products, with the exception of
textile, an important part of Croatia's export onto EU markets.
The economy minister reminded that for the first time this year,
Croatia and BH were given the possibility of setting textile export
quotas for accessing EU markets. The limits and ceilings, however,
are such that for some clothing garments they were practically
exploited at the beginning of the year.
Fizulic was hopeful textile would be the subejct of intense
negotiations in the coming months, and that it would be included in
the regime of duty-free access to the EU as of next year.
The EU market is of outstanding importance for Croatia, as
indicated by the fact that about 55 percent of Croatia's entire
export and import refers to that market. Of $2.2 billion made in
export in this year's first six months, 1.2 billion referred to the
EU, and of 3.7 billion made in import, 2.1 billion was imported from
EU countries.
(hina) ha