cefta 2006 improving regional trade in south eastern europe usaid: rci annual forum bucharest 1...
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CEFTA 2006 CEFTA 2006 Improving Regional Trade in South Eastern EuropeImproving Regional Trade in South Eastern Europe
USAID: RCI Annual Forum USAID: RCI Annual Forum Bucharest 1 NovemberBucharest 1 November
Stability Pact for SEE
Political Framework to initiate and develop regional co-operation processes in SEE
Members: SEE countries and territories and the international community
3 areas of operation: democracy, economic development and justice and home affairs and security
Regional Trade Policy
SP Trade Working Group – SEE countries, EC, WTO, bilateral governments incl USA
2001: MoU on Trade Policy and Facilitation 2006: 32 bilateral free trade agreements 2005: agreement to consolidate bilateral FTAs
into a single FTA April 2006: SEE Prime Ministers meeting –
enlargement and amendment of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)
Status of CEFTA Agreement
Four rounds of negotiation between June 2006 and October 2006, chaired by the SP
November 9 2006: Agreement to be initialled December 19 2006: Agreement to be signed at
CEFTA Summit of Prime Ministers in Bucharest
January 2007: EU Accession of Romania and Bulgaria
July 2007: Entry into force – replacing bilateral FTAs
Key Features of CEFTA 2006
Modern, ambitious and inclusive FTA Liberalisation of industrial goods – 2008 Further Liberalisation of agricultural goods Harmonisation of trade rules and procedures Reduction of Technical Barriers to Trade Common system of rules of origin
Key Features of CEFTA 2006
Investment Promotion New areas: Trade in services, intellectual
property, government procurement Strengthened dispute settlement mechanism Strengthened institutional support framework
Other Issues
Non-tariff Barriers incl customs co-operation
Infrastructure
Information
