Brussels, 19/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 12 July, the WTO Council for Trade in Goods approved the request for exemption submitted by the European Communities over the granting of a preferential trade regime to the Western Balkans. Forwarded to the WTO General Council for adoption, the Council from Trade in Goods draft decision notes the “exceptional situation” in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It adds that the Community's customs duty-free market access and preferential treatment for products from these countries aims “to promote economic expansion and recovery” and not to create trade barriers for other WTO members.
The WTO General Council also approved the EC's request for the extension of the deadline for its on-going negotiations with members in relation to the EC's enlargement. The new deadline is 1st February 2007, with the notification by members negotiating with the EC of their intention to withdraw substantially equivalent concessions by no later than 2 January 2007.