§ Mr. WareingTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if the newly recognised Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will enjoy the same agreements on trade that were in place for the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; what are the present arrangements for the duties on trade with Yugoslavia; if EURI certificates are applicable; whether former trading and duty arrangements between the European Union and Yugoslavia are being recognised by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [30256]
§ Mr. Oppenheim[holding answer 22 May 1996]: The 1982 trade and co-operation agreement between the EC and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was abrogated in 1991 following the break-up of the country. In February 1992 the trade benefits of the TCA were re-introduced for Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina only. Trade sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were lifted in November 1995, but the preferences of the 1982 TCA were not extended to it. In accordance with the regional approach agreed by EU Foreign Ministers in October 1995, the EU will conclude new individual agreements covering trade with all of the successor states of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including FRY, as and when the political conditions have been met.
Many industrial products and a range of agricultural products can be imported duty free from Croatia, Solvenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia, using EURI certificates, some within ceilings and quotas. Council regulations 3355, 3356 and 3357/94, as amended by Council regulation 3032/95, set out the arrangements applicable. These countries are also beneficiaries of the EU's agricultural generalised system of preference scheme, which grants preferential access to developing countries for many agricultural products. These trading arrangements are non-reciprocal. Duties on imports from FRY are levied at the most favoured nation rate. As FRY does not have preferential trading arrangements, EUR 1 certificates are not applicable.