Chair in Office

In accordance with Article 41 of CEFTA, the Parties at the first Joint Committee meeting following the entry into force of the Agreement in September 2007, adopted the necessary procedures for the appointment and functioning of the Chair in Office.  See Decision No 1/2007

The position of Chair in Office rotates annually from the 1st of January and is held sequentially by the Parties, following the alphabetical order of their names in English.  Thus the Chairmanship schedule since the entry into force of CEFTA 2006 is as follows:
 

• 2007 The Republic of Macedonia
• 2008 The Republic of Moldova
• 2009  Montenegro
• 2010 The Republic of Serbia
• 2011 UNMIK/Kosovo
• 2012 The Republic of Albania
• 2013 Bosnia and Herzegovina
• 2014 The Republic of Croatia

The Chair in Office is responsible for convening the annual meetings of the Joint Committee and any ad hoc meetings that are deemed necessary. The Chair determines the agenda for these meetings in consultation with the Parties. 

In 2009, at the outset of its Chairmanship, Montenegro instigated a system of annual work programmes, setting out the priorities of the CEFTA Parties for that year.  This concept, which is being followed by the subsequent Chairmanships, complements the annual report that the Chair must submit within 30 days of completing its tenure. The CEFTA Secretariat supports the Chair in Office.

Further information on the current and previous Chairs in Office of CEFTA can be found by clicking on the relevant link on the left hand side of this page.