Press Conference, 18 January, 14.00h At the initiative of the Stability Pact for South East Europe and within the framework of its Working Table II on "Economic Reconstruction, Development and Co-operation" the Trade Ministers of 7 Balkan countries will meet in Geneva January 18 to commit themselves to reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers regarding regional trade in the Balkans. In the presence of the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, Bodo Hombach and chaired by Fabrizio Saccomanni (Working Table II), ministers or high level officials of Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Romania and FR of Yugoslavia are to endorse a Statement of Intent in view of a series of specific actions to liberalise and facilitate trade. Two scientific studies will be discussed by senior trade policy experts the day before the ministerial meeting on how achieving a local common market through Free Trade Agreements and the elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers still existing in the region. (See attached Background Paper for details) The result of the Ministerial Meeting will be presented to the media at a press conference on January 18, 2001, at the Hotel du Rhone, at approx. 14.00. For further information see the Spokesperson's details in "Press and Public Affairs" - "Contact details" on our Home page. PA2001/002 Brussels, 15 January 2001 MEDIA BACKGROUND PAPER FOR STABILITY PACT GENEVA MEETING ON TRADE 18 JANUARY 2001 From the very beginning of the Stability Pact (SP), trade has been identified as a key sector. Liberalisation of trade is undisputed even though implementation takes time and requires political will, as it can temporarily have financial and/or social impact in the countries of the region. A SP Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation Group has been set up already in autumn 1999. It is chaired by a vice-minister from Macedonia, Mr Bogojevski. He is assisted by consultants from the company TDI (Ireland), funded by the UK. The main purpose of the Group has been to carry out studies and promote exchanges of views between the countries. The Group has now come up with two independently conducted studies on Free Trade Agreements and Non Tariff Barriers. The studies were carried out by two consultants, financed by UK and Switzerland. As a result, a ministerial meeting was convened for January 18 in Geneva, in order to accelerate the process and promote concrete changes. This two day meeting in Geneva has been prepared in co-operation with representatives of the EC, the WB, external experts (financed by UK and Switzerland) and TDI. Its purpose is to unite ministers of the region with a view to preparing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on trade liberalisation issues within a few months. To that end, SP invites ministers at the Geneva meeting to agree on a Statement of Intent. A first draft of the MoU has been prepared by the Group. With the ministers go-ahead it will be discussed after the Ministerial Conference in meetings at technical level, before it can be adopted by the ministers at a later stage. Geneva meeting schedule: On Wednesday 17 January, experts will present the result of two studies On Thursday 18 January, Ministers will be invited to express their commitment, and adopt the Statement of Intent.