Q:
A:
Serbia to join WTO soon
Belgrade,
27 April 2009
State Secretary for International Relations at the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Vesna Arsic today stated that Serbia is currently in the final stages of negotiations concerning its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Author:
Танјуг
At a forum called ”Negotiation Status and Open Issues”, held at the M Hotel in Belgrade, Arsic said that the WTO is drafting a report on Serbia’s efforts to synchronise its laws with WTO regulations.
She noted that Serbia may successfully complete all negotiations by the end of this year, adding that the Serbian parliament must adopt the necessary laws by then. If negotiations are not completed by the end of 2009, Serbia will be the only country in the region not to be a member of the WTO, said the State Secretary, adding that it is necessary that two thirds of WTO member states vote for Serbia’s accession.
Arsic recalled that WTO membership is a precondition for EU entry, adding that bilateral talks on trade liberalisation with certain members are very hard.
She said talks were successfully concluded with Norway and Switzerland, who is the sponsor of the forum, adding that Serbia still has to conclude negotiations with the EU, Japan, Korea, China, Brazil, El Salvador, Ecuador, Canada and the USA.
Arsic stressed that talks with the USA are of key significance, adding that probably talks with the EU will be finished first, as soon as parliament adopts the necessary laws.
She specified that the main obstacles to Serbia’s WTO accession are the liberalisation of services in the telecommunication and financial sectors, free trade, environmental protection and phytosanitary and sanitary measures.
The forum is organised by the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, being the relevant ministry for coordinating the process of Serbia’s accession to the WTO, in cooperation with the Ideas Centre consultancy from Geneva.
She noted that Serbia may successfully complete all negotiations by the end of this year, adding that the Serbian parliament must adopt the necessary laws by then. If negotiations are not completed by the end of 2009, Serbia will be the only country in the region not to be a member of the WTO, said the State Secretary, adding that it is necessary that two thirds of WTO member states vote for Serbia’s accession.
Arsic recalled that WTO membership is a precondition for EU entry, adding that bilateral talks on trade liberalisation with certain members are very hard.
She said talks were successfully concluded with Norway and Switzerland, who is the sponsor of the forum, adding that Serbia still has to conclude negotiations with the EU, Japan, Korea, China, Brazil, El Salvador, Ecuador, Canada and the USA.
Arsic stressed that talks with the USA are of key significance, adding that probably talks with the EU will be finished first, as soon as parliament adopts the necessary laws.
She specified that the main obstacles to Serbia’s WTO accession are the liberalisation of services in the telecommunication and financial sectors, free trade, environmental protection and phytosanitary and sanitary measures.
The forum is organised by the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, being the relevant ministry for coordinating the process of Serbia’s accession to the WTO, in cooperation with the Ideas Centre consultancy from Geneva.
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