For its first Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Croatia will focus on the work of the European Union within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), starting with the WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2020 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
WTO
Recalling that "the EU should retain its leading role in the WTO modernisation process" in order for the organisation to be ready to respond "to the current and future challenges of the world economy", the Croatian Presidency endorses the priority established by the Trade Ministers of the Twenty-Eight last November (see EUROPE 12374/3).
In the first half of 2020, EU trade policy will therefore continue to work towards "fair and open" global trade, based on "effective and enforceable" rules that provide "a level playing field" in international trade, according to the Croatian Presidency programme. This priority goes hand in hand with the preparation of the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference in Nur-Sultan (see EUROPE 12386/9, 12365/25).
Sustainability in priorities
The Presidency's rather laconic trade policy programme also confirms Zagreb's emphasis on continuity, with priorities in line with those of its predecessors (see EUROPE 12293/15, 12180/8). These include the finalisation of ongoing negotiations, the promotion of European values and standards, sustainable development, the full implementation of agreements concluded, or also the strengthening of transatlantic relations or the rebalancing of the EU's economic relationship with China.
Finally, the Presidency will encourage further work on an instrument on public procurement (see EUROPE 12386/10) and on the finalisation of the legal framework for dual-use goods (see EUROPE 12187/13), in accordance with the EU Council conclusions of March 2019. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)