Geneva, 20/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - Meeting under the chairmanship of Mr Ansgar Gabrielsen, Minister of Trade and Industry, Norway, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) held its autumn Ministerial meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on 13 December. Key point of their work included the Doha Conference, EU enlargement and EFTA relations with third countries.
Ministers welcomed the successful outcome of the WTO Ministerial conference in Doha and the decision to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. They reaffirmed their commitment to free trade and expressed their wish to see a new round of negotiations that would strengthen the "framework conditions" for governments and economic operators to work towards long-term growth. They also pointed out that EFTA policy aimed to conclude free trade agreements and complement and support the global agenda. They warmly welcomed the accession of new members to the WTO and emphasised the importance of China and Chinese Taipei as an important step towards making the WTO universal.
Ministers also welcomed the progress made by EFTA in its negotiating of free trade agreements on the American continent and Asia. Satisfaction was also expressed at the draft free trade agreement reached with Singapore, which is now being considered by EFTA governments. It is expected to be signed in the first half of 2002. It would be the first free trade agreement between East Asian and European countries. Negotiations with Chile had progressed and negotiations for a free trade agreement with Canada are expected in the near future. Ministers affirmed their hope that negotiations would be concluded by the first half of 2002. Ministers noted the efforts made to advance the ongoing free trade negotiations with Egypt and Tunisia, as well as the positive results of exploratory discussions on free trade with South Africa.
In light of the European enlargement process, Ministers underlined the importance of working in close collaboration with the EU and the urgency of technical preparations by the EFTA side. They reiterated the importance of achieving simultaneous enlargement of the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). In this respect, the existing free trade agreements with candidate countries will be replaced by the EEA agreement and bilateral agreements with Switzerland. They noted that the mixed committee of the EEA was working on clarifying the procedures and legal instruments required for enlarging the EEA. Ministers also stressed the importance of exchanging information between the EU and EFTA states on important subjects during enlargement negotiations. EFTA free trade agreements and the provisions on free trade and the fish trade are going to be replaced by the EEA agreement when EU/EEA candidate countries become full members. Ministers believe that efforts must be made to maintain free trade in the fish industry in order to prevent further obstacles to the industry. Ministers noted that the ratification procedure for the new bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU were about to be finalised so that the agreements could enter into force in the first half of 2002. They were further informed about the 10 new negotiation issues with the EU, such as processed agricultural products, services, customs fraud, taxation of savings, as well as judicial and police co-operation, which would later have an impact on EFTA internal relations.