BRUSSELS/ZAGREB, 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.
BRUSSELS/ZAGREB, 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. #L#
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.
Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges said today in Zagreb the
session of the Working Group for Croatia's admission to the WTO was
rescheduled from 12 to 18 October.
This gives Croatia room for concerted and coordinated action toward
all parties involved in the procedure of its admission to the WTO.
Mentioning that all other issues have been agreed on and that audio-
visual services are not crucial for Croatia, Porges said Croatia
insisted that two opposed parties (France and the United States)
find an acceptable model.
In a letter to the WTO Director Mike Moore Croatia requested that
the WTO Secretariat organise a meeting of EU negotiators and the
United States regarding the problem.
"Croatia would accept any solution which would be acceptable for
these two, currently pretty much opposed, stands", Porges said.
"What is certain is that Croatia cannot be a messenger between the
two opposed schools of thought and convey France's stands to the
United States and vice versa", Porges said.
(hina) jn rml