EFTA and Georgia plan to sign a joint declaration on cooperation in Gstaad on 28 June

Published 22-06-2012
On 21 June, the EFTA Council in Geneva prepared for the summer EFTA Ministerial meeting that will take place in Gstaad on 28 June. The Ministers plan to sign a joint declaration on cooperation with Georgia. The Council decided to liberalise intra-EFTA trade in agricultural products and reviewed ongoing free trade negotiations, including a recent round with Central American countries.

The Ministerial meeting will be chaired by Swiss Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann. It is foreseen that the Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ms Vera Kobalia, will be in Gstaad to sign a joint declaration on cooperation with the EFTA States. 

The Council approved amendments to the EFTA Convention, which will enter into force at a later date, improving market access for agricultural products among the EFTA members.

The most recent negotiating round reviewed by the Council, took place from 4 to 7 June in Panama City with Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama. The talks covered all topics foreseen to be included in a future agreement and an ambitious work programme was agreed to work towards an early conclusion of the negotiations.

The next Council meeting will take place on 11 July 2012.

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