CROATIA-WTO: EU COMMISSION SUGGESTS ADDITIONAL CONSULTATIONS WITH USA

BRUSSELS, Oct 7 (Hina) - The European Union Commission will seek a solution to problems hampering Croatia's admission to the World Trade Organisation in additional negotiations between Croatia and the United States, a representative of the EU press service in Brussels told Hina on Thursday. At the very end of a six-year-long admission procedure Croatia's joining the WTO is being obstructed by a dispute between the United States and Europe regarding audio-visual services. In bilateral talks, the European stand was represented by France, which did not accept a draft compromise solution which did suit the United States. At a meeting of permanent representatives of EU countries (COREPER), a representative of the EU Commission said more time was needed to find a new compromise solution regarding Croatia's admission to the WTO. The EU Commission does not consider it useful for the dispute to be forwarded to the EU Council of Ministers for consideration, a step expected by Croatia. The EU Commission's proposal was adopted at the COREPER meeting without a debate and that item was not included in the draft agenda of a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg scheduled for October 11, the press service representative at the EU Council of Ministers' secretariat, Andre Gillissen, said. (hina) jn rml