The Seventh Forum of Chambers of Commerce of CEFTA Region
- Belgrade 9 November 2010 -
FORUM OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF CEFTA REGION
Serbian Chamber of Commerce
9 November 2010
R E P O R T
1.
Within CEFTA Week 2010, The Seventh Forum of Chambers of Commerce of CEFTA Region was held in Belgrade.
The participants were representatives of the Union of Chambers and Commerce and Industry of Albania, Foreign Trade Chamber of Commerce of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Economic Chamber of Commerce of Macedonia, Chamber of Commerce of Moldova and Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
The purpose of this Forum was to provide, through inter-chamber cooperation and dialogue, support to the economies of these parties for getting maximum positive effects from creating free zone in the Region.
Within the framework of CEFTA Forum, meetings of three Working Groups were held: Working Group for Technical and Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade, Working Group for Customs and Rules of Origin of Goods and Working Group for Agriculture.
The task of the Working Groups was to identify, within the scope of their activities, the problems faced by business entities of CEFTA members in the economic cooperation in the Region and present them to the competent government authorities in order to eliminate these obstacles and initiate necessary initiatives with the competent CEFTA institutions.
Special focus on the Forum was pointed to:
-Necessity for further cooperation between private and public sector;
-Readiness was pointed for further development of economic cooperation and trade in this part of Europe.
-It was reiterated that CEFTA parties are focused on mutual cooperation;
-Full implementation of CEFTA agreement is a base for further expansion of trade.
Concerning the conclusions made by Working groups it is important to draw the attention to following:
a)Working Group for Technical and Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade
Forum of CEFTA chambers gives it’s full support for the idea to introduce the uniform methodology for removal of the all forms of barriers in the region, as well as to establish the priorities and measures that should be taken on this way.
Forum has pointed out that many of the existing barriers have been removed, but also new barriers have come into the place. This is the main reason that our work must be continued with a focus on removal of all barriers that came into place in recent time.
The establishment of CEFTA Trade Portal was welcomed by Forum of CEFTA Chambers and pointed out that this portal is going to give full access to the relevant data that is necessary for interested parties in the region.
One of the obstacles that was pointed out was the lack of accredited laboratories, thus preventing the possibility of acceptance of the certificates of quality in respective parties within the CEFTA region.
One of the obstacles in trade was the long and complicated procedure for obtaining Visas, and the necessity for full liberalization of visa regime in CEFTA region was reiterated.
b)Working Group for Customs and Rules of origin of Goods
It was pointed out that the continuation of education on all levels concerning Rules of origin of the goods is necessary.
It was reiterated that it is necessary to publish the “Information guide book” about Rules of origin goods in the region, that would be supported by the partnership project with DIHK.
It is necessary to speed up the process of bilateral liberalization of trade with countries from EU – Mediterranean partnership.
It is necessary to continue the work on promotion of the unified public procurement conditions in the region.
c)The Working Group for Agriculture
The significant development in trade of agricultural products in the CEFTA region was pointed out.
It was pointed out that the great step forward in the harmonization of laws within CEFTA parties towards EU was made in the period behind us.
The importance of signed agreements on veterinary cooperation was underlined.
It was pointed out that it is necessary to speed up the process of signing the mutual agreements on acceptance of certificates that is specially important for the agricultural sector.
2.
The Working Group for Technical and Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade has adopted the following conclusions:
- Similar barriers in the parties of CEFTA region is evident;
- Good willing of the CEFTAparties to think global is present;
- Launching initiatives to introduce uniform certificates and procedures;
- It is necessary to have full transparency between the chambers of CEFTAparties;
- Collaboration between the chambers in CEFTAparties to have the same approach in the same time with the governments for elimination of tariff barriers;
- Sift of the procedures from border crossings to the market;
- To speed up the procedures of harmonization of infrastructure of quality;
- To separate the concepts of quality and safety as the first step must be safety and the second step will be quality;
- Keeping monitoring step by step as the country is getting closer to the EU accession;
- Launching of CEFTA portal in order to provide better information on all relevant regulations and procedures;
- Launching initiatives towards visa liberalization in cooperation with relevant government authorities;
- Chambers will organize appropriate trainings for business community in order to have better knowledge on the regulations and modifications;
- Protocols on mutual recognition of the procedures to issue documents issued by accreditation bodies.
3.
Working Group for Customs and Rules on the origin of Goods hasadoptedthe followingconclusions:
- In view of the obvious lack ofunderstanding of the advantages of conducting business in the CEFTA Region. As well as advantages of cumulation of the origin of goods, especially ofthe diagonalcumulation, it is crucial to continue with the education process as well as to prepare an integral CEFTA Guide on the origin of goods with the support ofthe partnershipproject CEFTA-DIHK.
- The need formore proactive participation of CEFTA Committee and CEFTA Secretariat has been recognized, including solving of the following concrete problems:
- It is also essential to find a solution for the problem of provision of EUR1 by the companies based in Transnistriain the Republic of Moldova, which directly prevents the implementation of CEFTAAgreement and development of free trade between Moldova and other CEFTAparties;
In addition, the private sector expects greater support and assistance of CEFTA Secretariatin solving other concrete problems in the field within the implementation of CEFTAAgreement.
- With respect to the implementation of CEFTA Agreement Article 35, and specifically the principle of non-discrimination under the public procurement procedures, the need for harmonization of participation conditions has been acknowledged as a means for opening the road for creation of the integrated market for public procurement in the Region;
- Along these lines, the need for inter-chamber networking in order to attain transparency of both business opportunities and participation conditions after the EU model has been stressed;
-It is essential to encourage the representatives of the customs and other authorities directly involved with the CEFTA implementation, as it is the only way to ensure fast clarification of any ambiguities and practical problems and more efficient solving of such issues, thus contributing to regional cooperation.
- Governments ofCEFTAparties should intensify their activities towards faster accession of Western Balkans to Pan-Euro-Mediterranean diagonal cumulationof origin and diagonal cumulation in theCEFTA Region – EFTA – EU.
4.
The Working Group for Agriculture adopted the following conclusions:
- Chambers of Commerce welcome the activities undertaken to provide for further liberalization of trade in agricultural goods trough bilateral arrangement, if there is no possibility for all signatories to CEFTA 2006 to accept simultaneously the additional Protocol and Annex, and all these for the purpose of applying new concessions starting from 1 January 2011;
- Chambers of commerce welcome signing of the agreement on mutual recognition of certificates between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Chambers of Commerce also welcome the activities undertaken by other interested signatories to CEFTA 2006 in accordance with the conclusions of the III meeting of the Subcommittee for Agriculture and SPS issues in order to open negotiations on mutual recognition of certificates and request the soonest possible conclusion of negotiations and signing of the appropriate agreement;
- Chambers of commerce are supporting launching of CEFTA Trade Portal and they expect that its operation will provide for the reduction of the existing, as well for prevention of the appearance of new non tariff barriers to trade.
5.
In compliance with the conclusions of the Conference: Insurance in the CEFTARegion,organized by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and held on Zlatibor in October 2010, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce proposed that the Forum of CEFTA Chambers of Commerce sets up an inter-chamber working group for insurance. The Serbian Chamber of Commercewould convene the first meeting of the Working Group for Insurance and propose the plan of activities for 2011.
6.
Forum of CEFTA Chambers of Commerce stressed the need for consistent, full and efficient implementation of CEFTA Agreement. Non-tariff trade and unification of business conditions as well as removal of trade barriers in compliance with the WTO Rules and EU standards, will contribute to the increase in production and employment, wider range of goods, higher competitiveness and greater inflow of investment in the Region.
Chambers of Commerce in theCEFTARegion will considerably contribute to the development of the economic cooperation and trade and creation of integrated trade environment in this part of Europe. Along this process, chambers expect to become an important partnerfor the governments,EU, Council for Regional Cooperation as well as all other entities that support and participate in the building and establishing of the free trade zone in the Region.
Traditional cooperation between our parties and implementation ofCEFTA Agreement represent a ground for the growth in visible trade and establishment of more comprehensive forms of mutual economic cooperation.
Forum of CEFTA Chambers of Commerceconcluded that active participation in the promotion of the economic development, increase in exports and foreign direct investments strengthen competitiveness of the economy and development of entrepreneurship, as well as promotion of economic area of the Region, as respectable investment destinations, is something that should become strategic goal of the chambers of commerce of CEFTAparties.
Belgrade, November 9th, 2010
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REPORT – Forum of CEFTA CC