site.btaEconomy Minister Karanikolov Takes Part in 11th WTO Ministerial Conference

Buenos Aires/Sofia, December 11 (BTA) - Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov participated in the opening of the Eleventh World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, held in the Argentinean capital, the Economy Ministry reported Monday.

Prior to the Conference's opening, Karanikolov took part in the first meeting of EU trade ministers held in the Foreign Affairs Council format, during which the EU position for the WTO Ministerial Conference was discussed and a package of conclusions adopted which empower the European Commission to conduct negotiations during the conference.

It transpired from the meeting that the EU Member States unanimously support the EC's strategy for upholding the WTO's pivotal role in reinforcing a multilateral trade system based on rules, as well as retaining the EU's leadership role for achieving balanced results, mostly in the agriculture sector, fisheries subsidies, e-commerce, internal regulations pertaining to the services sector, transparency and good regulatory practices pertaining to SMEs. These topics will be discussed during the Ministerial Conference's first day, together with the WTO's future work and role as a discussion forum about new and current global trade topics.

Bulgaria's position as a future host of the EU Presidency, is in favour of achieving balanced results in multilateral trade negotiations, ensuring the EU Member States' unity regarding both the adoption and application of these results.