[autom.vertaling] Lamy in Praag en Boedapest om handelsimplicaties van de uitbreiding van de EU te richten (en)
On 25 and 26 September EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy travels to the Czech Republic and Hungary to discuss EU trade policy questions with government, business community and civil society. On the eve of his visit, Pascal Lamy said "Next year we will be enlarging the EU family to ten new members and like any family, we should take the time to prepare this event together. I want to share views with Czech and Hungarian administration and citizens and explain my view of how the enlarged EU, speaking with one voice on trade, can promote our view of harnessed globalisation."
Mr. Lamy will underline that enlargement has already effectively taken place in terms of opening trade between the EU and acceding countries, due to the Europe Agreements in place since the early 90's. Even if enlargement will not have a "big bang" effect on business, by becoming part of the largest single market in the world, trade between the new and current Member States will be entirely free as of the first day of enlargement. Transactions will be further simplified and the last obstacles to trade will be repealed, creating significant new business opportunities for existing and new Member States alike. The visit will also provide an opportunity to discuss EU trade policy, both within the WTO as well as at regional/bilateral level.
Czech Republic (Prague)
In Prague on Thursday 25th September, Mr. Lamy will meet Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cyril Svoboda and Minister of Industry and Trade, Milan Urban. He will hold a workshop with Czech businessmen on how EU trade policy works in practice, and will deliver a lecture at the Prague School of Economics.
Hungary (Budapest)
In Budapest on Friday 26th September, Mr. Lamy will meet Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy and Minister of Economy Istvan Csillag, as well as other Ministers. The programme will also include a workshop with Hungarian business representatives on how EU trade policy works in practice, as well as meetings with representatives of the Hungarian business community and representatives of trade unions and local non-governmental organisations.
Background
Acceding countries are already integrated in EU discussions on trade policy and therefore contribute to its formulation. Since 1999 Trade Ministers from candidate countries and Mr. Lamy have met annually to discuss trade matters.
Trade Ministers from current and future Member States also met with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy on 6 July 2003 in Palermo to discuss trade issues and prepare the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun.
The Czech Republic is the EU's eighth largest trading partner, and second among the acceding countries. Bilateral trade with the Czech Republic consists of transport material, machinery, and telecom equipment.
Hungary is the EU's ninth largest trading partner, and third among the acceding countries after Poland and the Czech Republic. Bilateral trade with Hungary consists of transport material, machinery, and chemical products.
For more information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/candidates/index_en.htm
Annex:
Trade statistics
[Graphic in PDF & Word format]
[Graphic in PDF & Word format]