ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - Croatia and the European Union on Friday signed an additional protocol to the Agreement on Stabilisation and Association regulating mutual concessions regarding certain wines and alcoholic drinks and the mutual
recognition, protection and control of wine brand names and marks for strong alcoholic and flavoured drinks.
ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - Croatia and the European Union on Friday
signed an additional protocol to the Agreement on Stabilisation and
Association regulating mutual concessions regarding certain wines
and alcoholic drinks and the mutual recognition, protection and
control of wine brand names and marks for strong alcoholic and
flavoured drinks. #L#
The protocol was signed by the European Commission's Agriculture
and Fisheries Commissioner, Franz Fischler, and Croatian
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bozidar Pankretic.
The protocol will enable Croatia to increase its wine exports to the
European Union market and guarantee the protection of Croatian wine
brand names.
Last year the EU unilaterally opened its marked for all Croatian
products except for wine and beef. This preferential trade regime
has also been retained in the Agreement on Stabilisation and
Association, which binds Croatia to gradually open its market for
EU products.
Before the signing of the document, Commissioner Fischler, who is
on a two-day visit to Croatia, met Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
Fischler said he and Racan discussed agricultural reform policies
in Croatia and the EU.
Croatia and the EU have the same approach and believe that
agriculture is more than production, and that it should include
economic, environmental and social sustainability, he said.
Upon his arrival in Zagreb on Thursday evening, Fischler met his
host, Minister Pankretic. During the day, he is also to meet
Parliament Speaker Zlatko Tomcic and European Integration Minister
Neven Mimica.
Fischler will also attend a round table discussion in the
parliament on agriculture in Europe on the threshold of the 21st
century.
(hina) rml