The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
has initiated a series of workshops on issues related to post-EU-enlargement
economic cooperation and integration. The next Workshop, entitled "EU Enlargement:
Regulatory Convergence in Non-acceding Countries", takes place in Athens on
7 and 8 November. The Workshop is supported by the Government of Greece.
For ensuring that the non-acceding countries benefit from
the enlarged EU Internal Market, common rules and standards are indispensable.
If companies, for instance, wish to purchase materials for their supply chains
internationally, they will need to have harmonized standards. This Workshop
will examine how non-acceding countries can increase their trade and economic
cooperation with the enlarged EU by harmonizing their legislation and technical
regulations and standards.
Bilateral arrangements between the EU and Southern and Eastern
European countries already stipulate legislative and regulatory convergence,
although they do not establish a time frame. Similarly, regulatory convergence
may also form part of the Common European Economic Space initiative, launched
between the EU and Russia.
The UNECE acts as a standards- and norm-setting body in several
areas. It draws up regional and international conventions, regulations and
standards for international trade, agriculture, environment, transport, energy,
timber, human settlements and statistics. It thus has a special role to play
in providing a forum for cooperation between countries in the area of regulatory
harmonization and convergence. (Web site of the UNECE expert group responsible
for these activities: http://www.unece.org/trade/tips/wp6/wp6_h.htm
)
Attending the Workshop will be representatives of national
market regulation or surveillance offices, standardization offices or ministries
responsible for standardization and market surveillance policy, international
organizations, and universities.
This series of workshops, which is being supported by the
EU, is designed to help limit the prospect of new divisions arising in the
region and to look at the new shape of relations between the enlarged EU and
non-acceding countries.
Agenda and background papers for the Athens Workshop can
be found on the web site at http://www.unece.org/trade/workshop/athens-1103/wrkshop_h.htm
Further information can be obtained from the Coordinator of the Workshop:
Maria Misovicova
Economic Affairs Officer
Trade Development and Timber Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
CH - 1211 Geneva 10
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 3570
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 0037
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Ref: ECE/TRADE/03/P10