[Index]
Competing in a Changing
Europe:
How will EU enlargement affect regional
trade?
UNECE Forum “Competing
in a Changing Europe”
Palais des Nations, Geneva, 11-12 May
2004
Geneva, 7 May 2004
- This month, the European Union
(EU) became the world’s largest
trading bloc. Its recent enlargement by
10 new members means both a further extension
towards the South and a reunification
of West and East Europe. It also entails
important changes in the trading environment
for each of the Member States, as well
as for its new neighbours and other EU
trading partners.
On 11 and 12 May, the
United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE) hosts an Executive Forum
on “Competing in a Changing Europe”.
At the Forum, stakeholders will be examining
the implications of this fundamental transformation
of their trading environment, as well
as new opportunities for development in
the region. Participants will include
Governments, businesses and non governmental
organizations (NGOs) from throughout the
Euro-Asian region.
The Forum will look at
the potential business and economic consequences
of the enlargement provide a roadmap for
sources of support; and develop guidelines
for future action by the UNECE and other
related international organizations.
In particular, the Forum
will focus on a number of major issues
that confront policy makers and business
executives, such as: how to simplify border
procedures; best practice in technical
regulations and standards; and the role
that standards and logistics can play
in building reliable and efficient supply
chains in this new environment. These
measures will form the key inputs into
the business strategies and policy choices
that countries throughout the UNECE region
need in order to compete successfully
in a changing Europe.
The UNECE’s Committee
for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development
will hold its annual session during the
same week, on 10, 13 and 14 May, in Geneva,
where UNECE member States will discuss
the Committee’s work programme,
including its activities related to promoting
economic integration throughout the region.
For further information,
please contact:
Lorenza Jachia,
Forum Coordinator
United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10
Phone: + 4122 917 5593
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/TRADE/04/P03