Brussels, 15/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European University of Florence has published a study on the cultural industries and international negotiations, using the example of countries from the Euro-Mediterranean zone. Véronique Guèvremont, the author of this study explained that cultural goods and services fall into the scope of WTO agreements and an increasing pressure is being exerted on its members to progressively get rid of trade barriers in this sector. However, the flexibility offered under this General Agreement on the trade in services has led to a majority of members refusing to make commitments on the cultural industries. Euro-Mediterranean zone countries have been significantly influenced by this resistance movement and their commitments on market access and national approaches in the cultural sector therefore remain limited. Nonetheless, despite adoption in 2005 of the Convention on the protection and promotion of cultural diversity, pressure still exists, especially on these countries to stop recognising the specific nature of their cultural industry. Guèvremont emphasises the ambiguity of international negotiations in the cultural industries, which should be looked at in a variety of different ways. She illustrates her ides by highlighting the example of the Euro-Mediterranean zone. The report is available at: (http: //http://www.eui.eu/RSCAS/Publications (working paper 2007/33). (I.L.)