New Trade Topics

CEFTA 2006 is a modern, comprehensive trade agreement. Chapter VI of the Agreement sets out a number of new trade topics to be addressed by the Parties.  The Parties have agreed to a combination of specific commitments and evolutionary clauses in areas such as services, investment, government procurement and protection of intellectual property. 

In summary, the main objectives for each topic are:

Services:  a progressive liberalisation and mutual opening of the services market.

Investment: ensuring stable and equitable treatment of investors and complementing the trade liberalisation gains with investment opportunities.

Government procurement: a progressive and effective opening of the governments’ procurement markets by May 2010.

Protection of Intellectual Property: ensure adequate and effective protection of intellectual property  in accordance with international standards, in particular with TRIPS.

These new topics are challenging, not only to the CEFTA Parties, but to all countries and trading blocs throughout the world.  The CEFTA Parties have sought technical assistance to identify options available to them to meet the committements undertaken and to ensure that their policies can adapt to the dynamic environment in which they must operate.  They are co-operating closely with the EU and the WTO as appropriate on different aspects.

More information on the specific areas, the work being undertaken and progress made can be accessed by clicking on the relevant links on the left hand side of this page.