17/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - Eurocommerce, the association that defends the interests of wholesale and retail business within the EU was pleased to announce in a communication that signature, in Athens on 16 April, of the Enlargement Treaty by the 15 Member States of the European Union and the 10 candidate countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus) marks 'an important and historic moment for the continent of Europe'. 'The next stage will be to guarantee correct implementation and reinforcement of the acquis communautaire, particularly in sectors where transition periods between the EU and candidate countries have not been approved', continued Eurocommerce and concluded that 'under such conditions, the accession of new States to the single market would lead to a 'win-win' situation on both sides.'