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A:
Croatia called on to abolish discriminatory measures
Belgrade/Sarajevo,
7 August 2017
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said today in Sarajevo that no one wants a trade war, but that the countries of the region will be forced to contravene if the issue of an increase in Croatian tax is not settled until the next meeting to be held by the end of the week.
Author:
Tanjug
After meeting with representatives of the governments of the countries in the region in Sarajevo were affected by the increase in Croatian fees for phytosanitary inspection, Ljajic reminded that the official institutions of Croatia were sent an appeal a week ago to re-examine the decision, but that no response came back.
He explained that a very offensive explanation of the decision came from the Croatian side, after which our country began to apply certain types of sanitary and veterinary supervision, which will be strengthened, and emphasised that we have this right under the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Representatives of the governments of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia called on Croatia today to abolish discriminatory measures and align them with market standards, or to harmonise the prices of inspection controls with the average amounts valid in countries in the region and the EU.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia-Herzegovina Mirko Sarovic, Minister of Economy of Montenegro Dragica Sekulic and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Macedonia Ljupco Nikolovski.
They agreed on seven conclusions on Croatia's trade measures for agricultural products from third countries and signed a joint letter to be sent to the European Commission.
The ministers noted that the move by Croatia violated the rules and principles of the WTO and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which prohibits discrimination, requesting an urgent meeting with the competent minister in Croatia, which they believe should be held by the end of this week in Podgorica.
Also, they agreed to organise such meetings regularly, so the next one will be held in Skopje in September.
The European Commission was invited to join in resolving this problem, and an agreement was reached that Montenegro and Macedonia, as members of the WTO initiate appropriate mechanisms in that organisation.
Until the solution of this problem with Croatia, the ministers agreed that each country implements its own measures in order to protect its own interests.
He explained that a very offensive explanation of the decision came from the Croatian side, after which our country began to apply certain types of sanitary and veterinary supervision, which will be strengthened, and emphasised that we have this right under the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Representatives of the governments of Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia called on Croatia today to abolish discriminatory measures and align them with market standards, or to harmonise the prices of inspection controls with the average amounts valid in countries in the region and the EU.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia-Herzegovina Mirko Sarovic, Minister of Economy of Montenegro Dragica Sekulic and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Macedonia Ljupco Nikolovski.
They agreed on seven conclusions on Croatia's trade measures for agricultural products from third countries and signed a joint letter to be sent to the European Commission.
The ministers noted that the move by Croatia violated the rules and principles of the WTO and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which prohibits discrimination, requesting an urgent meeting with the competent minister in Croatia, which they believe should be held by the end of this week in Podgorica.
Also, they agreed to organise such meetings regularly, so the next one will be held in Skopje in September.
The European Commission was invited to join in resolving this problem, and an agreement was reached that Montenegro and Macedonia, as members of the WTO initiate appropriate mechanisms in that organisation.
Until the solution of this problem with Croatia, the ministers agreed that each country implements its own measures in order to protect its own interests.
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