PRAGUE, Nov 4 (Hina) - Drawing closer to the European Union by individual countries-members of the Central European Initiative (CEI) also carries risks for the economic dimension of this regional initiative, the president of the
Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, said in Prague on Thursday.
PRAGUE, Nov 4 (Hina) - Drawing closer to the European Union by
individual countries-members of the Central European Initiative
(CEI) also carries risks for the economic dimension of this
regional initiative, the president of the Croatian Chamber of
Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, said in Prague on Thursday. #L#
An economic forum within the CEI summit started in Prague on
Wednesday.
"The CEI is exposed to all risks faced by regional initiatives such
as the EFTA and the CEFTA, when a significant number of member-
countries starts approaching the EU", Vidosevic told Croatian
reporters after a meeting between presidents of economic
chambers.
According to Vidosevic, the problem which CEI member-countries are
facing is how to harmonise their membership in the CEI with that in
the CEFTA, as well as in the Stability Pact, because an important
part of countries of central and south-east Europe is included in
all three regional initiatives.
"All three projects are facing market expansion and subsequently
the expansion of the EU", he said.
Vidosevic described as "bleak" the meeting of representatives of
chambers of commerce from the CEI member-countries. He said it was a
pity that there had been no improvement regarding some basic
questions presented in Zagreb, one of them being a stronger role of
the chambers of commerce.
If more attention was paid to the voice of those chambers within the
CEI, I believe we could make larger steps, he said.
Speaking about Croatia's stand, Vidosevic believed it was
important for the country to be active in all three initiatives -
the CEI, CEFTA (regardless of the fact that it is still not a CEFTA
member) and in the Stability Pact.
"To be passive in any of the three initiatives can have long-
standing negative consequences for Croatia", Vidosevic said.
At the Prague forum, representatives of the 16 CEI member-countries
are discussing EU's approach toward the CEI region, investments and
trade in central and eastern Europe, and concrete business
initiatives regarding reconstruction and the stabilisation of
crisis spots in south-east Europe which are included in the
Stability Pact.
(hina) jn rml