Brussels, 14/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has recently sent new liberalisation agreement provisions concluded with Hungary at the end of April, to the Council of Ministers. They will enter into force on 1 July. As well as the improvement in current concessions this so-called "double-profit" agreement aims to open additional quotas of 450,000 tons of corn and 120,000 tons of wheat for candidate countries with in the perspective of a total liberalisation of agricultural trade after EU enlargement. The Community has obtained an increase in its zero-duty export quotas on fruit and vegetables (melons, potatoes, tomatoes, onions), beef and chickens. Complete and reciprocal liberalisation has been planned for sheepmeat, malt, molasses and cut flowers.
The agreement also means both parties will be obliged to end export subsidies in several sectors. These new concessions will increase supplementary bilateral agricultural trade from EUR 700 millions under the free-trade system.
The main zero-duty quotas for Hungary from July 2002 - June 2003 are as follows: - wheat, 600,000 tons, including a 60,000 ton increase from July 2003; - corn, 450, 000 tons (increase of 45,000 tons in 2003); - barley, 7, 000 tons (700 more tons in 2003); - rhy, 2 000 tons (increase of 200 tons in 2003); - oats, 1, 000 tons (plus 100 tons in 2003); - beef, 13, 655 tons (increase of 1,365 tons as from 2003); - pigmeat, 48, 000 tons (plus 4, 800 tons as from 2003); - poultry, 118, 900 tons (plus 9,900 tons from 2003); - milk, 1,300 tons (increase of 130 tons from 2003); - cheese, 4,200 tons (increase of 420 tons in 2003); -eggs, 3,155 tons (increase of 315 tons from 2003); - onions, 70,200 tons (increase of 5,850 tons from 2003); - frozen peas, 19 655 tons (plus 1,965 tons in 2003); - others frozen vegetables, 25 355 tons (increase of 2,535 tons from 2003); - melons and water melon, 11,855 tons (990 more tons in 2003); - cider apples, 37,800 tons (increase of 3, 780 tons in 2003); - other apples, 9,155 tons (915 more tons in 2003); - canned tomatoes, 11,520 tons (1,520 more tons in 2003).
Four candidate countries (Hungary and three Baltic countries) have already concluded "double-profit" agreements. The Commission is expected to present the proposals on this in connection with the Czech Republic and Slovakia at the Union at the end of the month, for which technical negotiations have already finished. These six agreements should enter into force as planned, in July and will possibly be backdated if they gain the swift approval of Member States. Discussions with other candidates are slow to progress. Poland is against opening its markets at present if it is unable to benefit from the totality of direct agricultural aid before access (see EUROPE yesterday p13). Slovenia is still wary about further liberalisation of agricultural trade while awaiting other concessions for processed fishing products. Romania and Bulgaria are not interested as yet by further trade liberalisation with the Community.