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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 07:45

Lithuania expects EU and Ukraine to complete talks on free trade in 2011

Petras Vaida, BC, Vilnius, 28.09.2011.Print version
On September 26, Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Egidijus Meilunas attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, where the EU trade ministers discussed the progress of the EU-Ukraine negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement, the Foreign Ministry informed BC.

The meeting also focussed on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other important issues of EU foreign trade policy. Negotiations between the EU and Ukraine have been conducted since 2008 and now agreement on many important issues has been reached. Lithuania called on the European Commission to make every possible effort to complete the negotiations this year. Agreement between the EU and Ukraine would imply not only the mutual opening of markets, but also the harmonization of Ukraine's legal acts and the EU law.

 

The agreement would promote trade and economic relations between Lithuania and Ukraine, and facilitate Ukrainian market access for Lithuanian exports.

 

Russia's WTO accession was another important issue discussed at the Council meeting. The Ministers took note of the progress of the accession process and the possibility to conclude the negotiations before the WTO Ministerial Conference which is to be held in December.

 

Lithuania supports Russia's accession to the WTO and is interested in Russia taking important commitments in the process of negotiations. This would ensure that further trade with this country would be conducted in accordance with recognized not discriminating trade rules. Thus more favorable conditions for trade with Russia would be created.

 

The Council took stock of developments in multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO's Doha Development Agenda, discussed free trade agreement between the EU and India, trade relations with the countries of the southern Mediterranean, agreements with Peru, Colombia and Central America as well as developments in the EU's trade relations with China and the United States.






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