In the framework of the so-called “double profit” agreements between the EU and candidate countries, the Commission today [Tuesday] adopted a proposal for a Council regulation in view of additional liberalisation of the agricultural trade with Estonia.
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The proposal foresees a total liberalisation of all ad valorem duties (for example for fruit and vegetables and juices, sheep meat and molasses) as well as an elimination within tariff quotas of the import duties for cereals, beef and veal, dairy products and eggs. Most other sectors – for example pig meat, poultry meat, fats and oils and a wide range of fruit and vegetables – were already liberalised in 2000.
In practice, this means that the trade in agricultural products between the EU and Estonia will be completely liberalised. Furthermore, the EU has committed itself to remove the export refunds for destination Estonia for all agricultural products except for rice and sugar. Following the “double zero” agreements in the year 2000, Estonia is the first country with which the Commission reached agreement to take a further step in mutually liberalising farm trade.
Commenting on the proposal, Commissioner Franz Fischler said “Facilitating mutual farm trade before EU accession is part of the EU’s strategy to prepare both sides for the EU accession and the single market.”
The proposal has now to be adopted by the Council and will enter into force on 1 July 2002. The negotiations with the 9 remaining Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) are currently under way.
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