At the Thessaloniki EU-Western Balkans Summit 21 June 2003, the perspective of EU membership was reinvigorated for five Southeast European Countries, called the Western Balkans.   This entails of course the establishment of free trade throughout the region, a Stability Pact initiative, which has been underway since June 2001.  Seven countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro) committed themselves to create a network of consistent bilateral free trade agreements and Moldova associated itself to the process with a somewhat extended timeline.  The vast majority of agreements are in force and the signing of four more will take place Rome on 13 November 2003 as part of a Ministerial Meeting of the Stability Pact Working Group on Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation hosted by the Italian EU Presidency.  The countries will also use this occasion to commit themselves to additional steps to further trade liberalisation in the region. 

Media are invited to this event, including the opening remarks by Italian Foreign Minister Frattini and Trade Minister Urso as well as the address by Commissioner Lamy and Special Co-ordinator Busek. 

A signing ceremony will be held at 10.20 hrs

A press conference will take place at 13.15 hrs

At Villa Madama, Rome, 13 November 2003

Accreditation for journalists :
Fax to “Ufficio Stampa” of Minister Urso, attn. Dr. Salemi, +39 06 59 64 74 63

AGENDA

09.15          Arrival of Delegations

09.30          Welcome Address

HE Franco Frattini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic

09.45          Opening Remarks

HE Adolfo Urso, Minister of Foreign Trade of the Italian Republic

HE Pascal Lamy, Member of the European Commission

HE Dragan Doko, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations,

Bosnia and Herzegovina in capacity as Chair of SEECP

Dr Erhard Busek, Special Co-ordinator, Stability Pact for    South Eastern Europe

10.20          Signature of the Outstanding Free Trade Agreements by Relevant Ministers

Albania and Serbia-Montenegro

Albania and Moldova

Bulgaria and Serbia-Montenegro

Moldova and Serbia-Montenegro

10.30          Statements by Signatory States of Memorandum on Trade (June 2001)

11.50          Statements from Multilateral Organisations and Supporting Countries

12.50          Adoption of Ministerial Statement on Trade Liberalisation in South Eastern Europe

13.05          Closing Statement

HE Minister Adolfo Urso

13.15   Press Conference