Declaration of Prime Ministers of the CEFTA Countries

Brdo pri Kranju, the Republic of Slovenia, November 7, 2003

The Prime Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia, conscious of the significance of mutual trade co- operation within the Central European Free Trade Agreement and wishing to promote further the economic co-operation among the CEFTA countries, met in Brdo pri Kranju, the Republic of Slovenia, on November 7, 2003.

The Prime Ministers welcomed the participation of the Republic of Croatia as a new CEFTA Party. They confirmed that its accession would further strengthen and promote trade relations between the Republic of Croatia and the other CEFTA countries.

The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the significant contribution of CEFTA to the strengthening of economic and trade relations among the Parties within the whole period of ten years of its implementation.

Furthermore, the Prime Ministers reconfirmed the important role of CEFTA in the process of integration in Europe which has provided significant contribution to the preparation of their countries for accession to the European Union.

The Prime Ministers underlined the well functioning of CEFTA and expressed their satisfaction with:

the implementation since March 1, 2003 of the Agreement on Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Central European Free Trade Agreement;
the signature of the Agreement Amending the Central European Free Trade Agreement to enable a CEFTA Party to withdraw therefrom on the date of its accession to the EU and to assign to the Republic of Bulgaria the obligations of the Depositary of this Agreement;
the application since January 1, 2003 of the Additional Protocol No. 12 to the Central European Free Trade Agreement concerning further liberalization of agricultural trade between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, on the one side, and the Republic of Slovenia, on the other side;
the application since July 15, 2003 of the Additional Protocol No. 14 to the Central European Free Trade Agreement concerning further liberalization of agricultural trade between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, on the one side, and the Republic of Hungary, on the other side.

The Prime Ministers welcomed the results of the Joint Committee session held on July 4, 2003 as well as the outcome of the Subcommittee on Agricultural Trade meeting held on May 16, 2003.

The Prime Ministers noted that beside the general positive trend of development of trade among the CEFTA countries, some problems still exist, mainly in the field of agricultural trade.

Regarding the further development and the deepening of the economic and trade co- operation in the framework of CEFTA, the Prime Ministers highlighted the importance to:

continue the cooperation in the development and the improvement of the CEFTA functioning;
increase the role of bilateral consultations in trying to solve the problems of mutual trade;
adopt safeguard measures on trade among the CEFTA Parties only in justified cases, in full accordance with the CEFTA and the WTO provisions, to the extent and the period strictly necessary to remedy the situation;
identify the existing trade barriers and examine the possibilities and conditions for their elimination;
support trade promoting events and contacts between business communities and professional associations.

The Prime Ministers welcomed the achievements of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia which will result in the EU membership on May 1, 2004.They appreciated the progress made in the accession negotiations of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania with the EU and their efforts to conclude the negotiations in 2004 with the aim to become EU members in 2007. The Prime Ministers also welcomed the submission by the Republic of Croatia of the application for the EU membership. In this respect, the Prime Ministers of the CEFTA countries acceding to the EU expressed their willingness to support the remaining CEFTA countries within the possibilities given to become EU members soon.

In connection with the accession of five CEFTA Parties to the EU the Prime Ministers emphasized the significance of the process of negotiations on adjustment of the relevant Europe Agreements and Stabilisation and Association Agreement respectively, taking into account the enlargement of the EU. They stressed the hope that the relevant negotiations would be concluded as soon as possible.

The Prime Ministers reconfirmed that CEFTA remains open for any country that is ready to meet the mutually accepted criteria, in particular the membership in the WTO and conclusion of the relevant Association Agreement with the EU.

The Prime Ministers agreed that the next meeting of the Prime Ministers of the CEFTA countries should take place in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Done in Brdo pri Kranju, on November 7, 2003.

For the Republic of Bulgaria

For the Republic of Croatia

For the Czech Republic

For the Republic of Hungary

For the Republic of Poland

For Romania

For the Slovak Republic

For the Republic of Slovenia