Stabilisation and Association process SAp and respect of

Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) and respect of standards to export into the EU Doretta Ghinzelli European Commission Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development Berlin, 5 May 2006

Contents § The Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) § Respect of standards to export into the EU § Areas where donors may invest § Some conclusions EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 2

SAA: state of play SAA in force in: § The former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia § Croatia SAA concluded: § Albania Negotiations under way: § Serbia and Montenegro § Bosnia Herzegovina EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 3

SAp and SAA Opportunities and Challenges § Preparation for EU-membership. - Close relationship with the EU Financial support Approximation to the Community acquis Improve customs management and procedures last but not least: political dialogue and cooperation EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 4

SAp and SAA Opportunities and challenges § The trade liberalisation - privileged access to the EU market: trade provisions are in general asymmetrically in favour of the countries - EU has granted unlimited duty free access to the market of the enlarged Union for virtually all products (exceptions: bovine meat. Baby-beef, wine and recently sugar are subject to tariff quotas) EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 5

Chapters agriculture products 17 Sugar 08 Fruits and nuts 41 EU 25 Imports from West Balkans * (in Mio. €) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 47, 6 173, 5 193, 0 165, 0 264, 8 110, 6 142, 4 147, 9 123, 9 121, 9 Raw hides and skins 65, 8 63, 8 51, 4 54, 1 56, 4 07 Vegetables 65, 7 63, 6 44, 7 55, 5 58, 0 10 Cereals 3, 0 76, 4 42, 0 7, 3 73, 9 22 Wines and vinegar 30, 0 30, 7 26, 0 26, 7 22, 0 118, 4 141, 4 156, 5 157, 6 200, 1 441, 0 691, 7 661, 3 590, 0 797, 2 Others Total Agric. Products West Balkans * = Albania, B&H, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia Source : EUROSTAT - Comext - DG AGRI EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 6

Chapters Agriculture products EU 25 Exports to West Balkans * (in Mio. €) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 02 Meat and edible meat 174, 5 183, 3 134, 8 154, 8 187, 1 04 Dairy; eggs; honey 133, 4 141, 0 131, 8 134, 2 114, 2 08 Fruits and nuts 116, 5 117, 1 112, 6 108, 3 117, 0 17 Sugar 125, 4 128, 4 108, 8 68, 8 138, 0 10 Cereals 125, 4 66, 9 94, 7 90, 7 57, 9 23 Residues food industries 65, 4 78, 3 81, 7 93, 7 78, 9 01 Live animals 55, 4 104, 1 75, 4 69, 6 93, 4 Prepar. Veget. fruits, 59, 7 68, 9 75, 6 77, 8 80, 0 Vegetables 66, 8 62, 9 74, 3 72, 9 47, 4 340, 9 325, 0 344, 3 343, 8 358, 8 1. 263, 3 1. 275, 9 1. 234, 1 1. 214, 6 1. 272, 7 19 -21 07 Others Total Agric. Products West Balkans * = Albania, B&H, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development Source : EUROSTAT - Comext - DG AGRI 7

EU 25 Trade with West Balkans (Mio. €) Total 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Agric. products EU 25 IMPORTS 441 692 661 590 797 from WB EU 25 EXPORT to WB 1. 263 1. 276 1. 234 1. 215 1. 273 EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 8

Respect of standards to export into the EU Products exported have to fulfil: 1. Phitosanitary and veterinary standards 2. Marketing standards EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 9

The New European Food Law operational from 1 January 2006 Main regulations EU Official Journal (R. 178/2002 EU food law) L 31 1/2/02 R. 852/2004 hygiene of foodstuffs L 226 25/6/04 R. 853/2004 hygiene rules food animal origin L 226 25/6/04 R. 854/2004 official controls products of animal origin L 226 25/6/04 R. 882/2004 on official controls L 191 28/5/04 EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 10

The European Food Law Different import requirements: § Food of animal origin § Food of non-animal origin § Food containing both, processed ingredients of animal origin and of plant origin EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 11

Marketing standards fruits and vegetables § Imports into the EU of fresh fruit and vegetables are checked for compliance with EU marketing standards § If the EU Member State authorities find the goods in conformity, they can enter the EU § Informing the operators is important even regardless of what is going on with the authorities EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 12

Some areas where donors may invest § Training for veterinary and inspectors with emphasis on the horizontal issues of the food law § Laboratories § Information/seminars for operators (growers, traders, interested groups) § Promoting the development of local consumer movements EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 13

Conclusions – message for the Western Balkans § Exploit the existing possibilities to export more into the EU § Exploit the great potential to trade more in the region (intra-regional free trade agreements) § This is also, in general, a good preparation for a future accession EU Commission – Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development 14