Ten countries join the EU on 1 May 2004
with three further countries set to follow
By next May the European Union will be the largest single market in the world, with some 500 million consumers. Independent research suggests that accession of central and eastern EU applicants will boost UK GDP by £1.75 billion. In order to highlight the benefits of national and international trade facilitation for the EU enlargement countries, DTI, SITPRO and HM Customs & Excise held a seminar on 9 June. It was an opportunity for DTI to outline the UK's continued support for these countries, its commitment to the accession process and to show why we will be working to achieve a trade facilitation agreement at September's WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancún.
The seminar was chaired by David Andrews, Director of Market Access at the DTI, and was launched by Baroness Symons, as Minister for Trade. She emphasised the benefits of trade facilitation and outlined her desire for progress in the run-up to Cancún. Matters discussed included the role of national trade facilitation bodies and the development of electronic documentation and customs systems. The business benefits of trade facilitation were also highlighted. Jorgen Munch from Davis Turner and Company recounted the routine difficulties his firm encountered in central and eastern Europe, such as difficult procedures and delays at border crossings, a situation which he hoped would improve following enlargement in May 2004. The financial benefits were underlined by Robert Crowhurst from the DTI, who stressed that the world trading system could save some €325 billion per year by simplifying trade procedures.
Europe is enormously important for UK business, and a trade facilitation culture in central and eastern regions will further enhance opportunities for UK firms. While all accession countries are pro-trade facilitation, there were some key messages to be sent back to their capitals. If the Single Market is to reach its full potential, this process will need to be matched by improvements on internal border procedures so that with increased trade flows and the very real business opportunities that this will create, we can achieve the best possible outcome.
Return to SITPRO News: Issue 46, August/September 2003
