Central European Free Trade Agreement
- CEFTA members
- Former CEFTA members
The Central European Free Trade Agreement (English Central European Free Trade Agreement, CEFTA) is a free trade agreement between several Balkan countries and Moldova. Objective of the agreement is the reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade. Participation in the CEFTA is regarded as preparation for a possible accession to the European Union because of the associated criteria and agreements.
- 2.1 Development of Members
- 2.2 Recent History
- 2.3 Meaning of the European perspective
Members
Current members
By comparison, per capita GDP (PPP ) in the Europaische Union European Union ( 2008): 30 494 Int. Dollars.
Former members
History
The agreement was established on 21 December 1992 from Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary in the Polish city of Krakow ( Cracow ) and entered into force in March 1993. The free trade agreement represents next to the existing since 1960 the European Free Trade Association ( EFTA ) and the European Economic Area, founded in 1994 is one of the most important economic agreements within Europe
Development of members
- CEFTA Member States
- EU Member States
Recent History
On 1 January 2007, the CEFTA has been extended to the so-called " Western Balkans " and Moldova. This led to the relaxation of some inclusion criteria. As entry criteria were considered for the new States is no longer a member of the World Trade Organization ( WTO) or institutionalized relations with the EU, as about Bosnia - Herzegovina and Serbia are not members of the WTO, still had a Stabilisation and Association Agreement ( SAA) with the EU.
The representative of Croatia, Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Macedonia and Kosovo have the contract for the expansion of CEFTA initialed on 9 November 2006 in Brussels, Serbia on 15 December. Bosnia - Herzegovina and Serbia still had reservations and wanted better conditions than in some previous bilateral agreements established, particularly in relation to certain agricultural products. On 19 December 2006, the treaty was ratified, renegotiations regarding the contract terms were not here.
Importance of the European perspective
The European perspective of the countries of South Eastern Europe is the most important criterion for the development of the entire region and thus for the maintenance of peace in Europe. The CEFTA is to ensure political stability through economic groupings.
In the long term the inclusion of the Ukraine is planned.