CEFTA member states support Moldova’s adhering to this organization

The member countries of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) support the Agreement’s expanding and modernization process. “We will make all the necessary efforts to finish talks with the West Balkan states, including with Moldova and Albania, creating in this way a new block of member countries”, the head of the Romanian delegation, Iuliu Winkler declared at the CEFTA Joint Committee. According to the Romanian Ministry of Economy and Commerce he said that finishing the negotiation process regarding the expanding and modernization of CEFTA is planned for September 2006, according to the schedule proposed by the Romanian side and accepted by the Summit, which took place on April 6 in Bucharest. Within the Joint Committee it was agreed to call up the annual session of CEFTA prime ministers on a date correlated with the signing of organization’s expanding and modernization Agreement. About a month ago, the Romanian Prime-minister Calin Popescu Taricenu declared that the participation of Moldova to CEFTA “offers it a European perspective”. The Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), was signed by Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia. The member countries aim at integrating in the West-European institutions and adhering to the Western political, economical, legal and security systems. The main objective is strengthening democracy and market economy. After joining to the European Union, Romania and Bulgaria will withdraw from the organization and starting January 1, 2006 the new holder of the agreement will become Croatia.