Commissioner Lamy welcomes trade discussions with Candidate Countries

The Ministerial meeting on trade between the EU and candidate countries that took place in Bucharest on 10 May underlined the substantial work already carried out in the on-going World Trade Organization negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda. It also stressed the need for all countries to energize the negotiations in the run--up to the next WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun in September.

Ministers discussed all items under the Doha Agenda, focusing on those where both the EU and candidate countries will seek progress in Cancun. On agriculture, Ministers, especially those having substantially opened up trade in agriculture as a result of recent WTO accession, underlined the need for a balanced approach, responding to the agreed objectives of increasing trading opportunities, reducing trade-distorting support and addressing concerns such as animal welfare, environment or food security. They also indicated the importance of advancing the negotiations on geographical indications, essential to ensure fair trading conditions for European farmers' high-quality products. Ministers agreed on the importance of opening up trade in industrial goods across the board, without sheltering particular sectors and ensuring a special treatment for developing countries.

All delegations underlined the importance of the "rules" component of the Doha and in particular on competition, trade facilitation, investment and transparency in public procurement, for which Cancun will decide on the modalities for the negotiation. Minister also indicated the importance of Cancun to adopt rules on trade and the environment and on the review of the dispute settlement.

Candidate Countries expressed their satisfaction with the consultations with the EU on on-going trade negotiations and pointed out to the preparation of the recent EU offer on services to the WTO as an example to be followed ahead of their full participation in EU decision-making.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss relations between the enlarged EU and its new neighbors, as well as recent developments in EU trade policy since the previous meeting in Malta in 2002.

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• Commissioner Lamy meets with Candidate Countries on trade (8/5/2003)