UNECE WORKING PARTY FOR REGULATORY COOPERATION AND
STANDARDIZATION POLICIES (UNECE Working Party 6)
Meeting of regulators from south-east European countries
(under the UNECE/SIDA “South-East Europe Regulatory Project”)
8 June 2004, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Participants: Representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR of
Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and also Slovenia, Sweden and
the UNECE secretariat (see list of participants in separate document), constituting the network for the
UNECE/SIDA “South-East Europe Regulatory Project”.
Introductory session
The meeting was opened by the representative of the host Government which welcomed participants
on behalf of the Minister of Economy of Slovenia.
During the “tour de table” the participants introduced themselves and spoke about their areas of
responsibilities in their national governments.
The chairman of the UNECE Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies
(WP.6), Mr. C. Arvius, provided an overview of the WP.6 regulatory activities and the background
for the UNECE/SIDA “South-East Europe Regulatory Project”.
The secretary of WP.6, Mr. S. Kouzmine, made a general presentation on the UNECE and, in
particular, on its standards-elaborating and regulatory activities.
Stability Pact (SP) and Balkan activities session
It was noted that the UNECE/SIDA Regulatory Project was being implemented in coordination and
cooperation with relevant structures in the Stability Pact. In this context, participants were informed
about discussions held within the framework of the Stability Pact regional table meetings on 7 and 8
June 2004 in Slovenia (Portoroz).
The trade-related work under the Stability Pact (namely under the Working Group on Trade
Liberalization and Facilitation established in January 2000) was highlighted in a presentation by a
member of this WG (Mrs. S. Kuzmanovska). Its main activity is liberalization of regional trade
through the monitoring of bilateral free trade agreements concluded between Balkan countries and
other related activities, according to MoU signed by the trade related ministers from the region in
2001. The Group’s work is set by the Strategy and Action Plan for 2004, which was endorsed by the
Ministerial Statement in Rome on 13 November 2003.
Participants agreed that the UNECE South-East Europe Regulatory Project could be a practical
contribution to the more general Stability Pact activities mentioned above. The importance of further
information exchange and cooperation with the Stability Pact was stressed.
National experiences/approaches session
The national delegates spoke about: the current situation in their countries; the latest developments in
legal and institutional areas; regulatory related concerns; tasks for governments; approaches taken and
progress made.
In relation to regulatory priorities the following major points were raised in countries’ presentations:
Albania (Mrs. V. Alketa)
A proposal was made to clarify what concrete matters are to be tackled under regulatory matters in the
future and thus to set up specific sub-groups to go further with concrete areas and sectors.
Under the framework of the Stability Pact, Albania has signed eight bilateral free trade agreements
with the countries of the region, and five of them are under implementation, specifically the
agreements with the FYR of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and UNMIK/Kosovo. The most
advanced agreement with regard to the implementation process (two years of implementation) is the
agreement with the FYR of Macedonia
To receive the full benefit from free trade agreements, it is important not only to liberalize trade, but
also to facilitate it, through bilateral cooperation agreements in other fields such as standardization,
conformity, metrology and accreditation. These fields will be issues for discussion in the joint
committees for implantation of a free trade agreement.
There is an evident lack of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) between Albania and other
countries in the region in the field of standardization and related matters, such as conformity
assessment.
In 2003, Albania adopted new laws on conformity assessment and on “accreditation”, and a
Government Decision on “Organization and Functioning of the Accreditation Directorate”. This
Directorate was established at the beginning of 2004 and will split the function of accreditation from
those of standardization and certification.
By the end of the year 2003, in the field of standards and certification, Albania had adopted 42% of
European Standards, therefore meeting the target fixed in both the working programme of the General
Directorate for standardization (GDS) and in the governmental action plan.
Proposals for future work under this Project:
The Albanian General Directorate of Standards is the institution responsible for serving as an
information centre for standards, established in compliance with the requirement for an enquiry point
under the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), as well as being the institution
responsible for carrying out all notifications related to Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). During the implementation period for the WTO
Agreements, it appears that problems have been identified related to the notification procedures
because of the lack of effectiveness of the two interagency committees on Technical Barriers to Trade
(TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS).
The issue on how to operate a WTO national enquiry point and, in particular, how to deal with
notification procedures on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures (SPS) matters has become very sensitive. So we would appreciate assistance and
cooperation with other countries in this regard.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mr. Z. Bilbija)
The main problems are primarily due to the fact that, at a federal level, the legal framework is not yet
in place.
Horizontal legislation on technical regulations and conformity assessment has been prepared and is
currently in the parliament for adoption. The Ministry for Foreign Trade will be responsible for the
transposition of EU directives and other structures are gradually being put in place.
Currently there is an inadequate infrastructure for conformity assessment; and the national
accreditation system is not recognized abroad.
Future work:
To set up twinning projects with the EU–member State institutions for establishing (and to assist in
the initial work) of separate regulatory agencies, first of all for the transposition of “New Approach”
directives.
Bulgaria (Mrs. I. Atanasova)
A number of framework laws have been adopted, for example, on food products; on chemical
substances, on technical requirements for products, on national standardization, on measurements, etc.
Bulgaria has adopted seventeen “New Approach” directives as national legislation and six EU
directives are in the process of being transposed.
Bulgaria has concluded a number of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with a number of countries in the
Balkan region and most of them are under implementation.
In addition, Bulgaria has concluded some agreements covering standardization and some other issues
with Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro.
Future work:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Further EU approximation (over 90% of EU technical legislation has already been
implemented) and, in particular its implementation;
Training (regulators, economic operators, enforcement bodies);
Translation of international standards, EU regulations/standards;
Industry awareness campaigns;
Market surveillance in the area of motor vehicles (type approval).
Croatia (Mrs. Z. Horvatic)
The main work and priorities in Croatia come from the Stabilization and Association Agreement with
the EU and its commitments to be implemented over a period of 6 years.
A number of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) were concluded in addition to the SAA, including all the
Stability Pact countries, EFTA and Turkey.
In January 2003, a National Strategy for technical harmonization with the EU, as a basic document
which defines the relevant responsibilities of the ministries for the transposition of the New and Old
approach directives, was adopted.
In autumn 2003, Croatia adopted a horizontal legal framework for the technical requirements for
products and conformity assessment; on standardization; on general product safety; and, on
metrology.
From January 2005 new independent agencies for standardization and for accreditation will start
functioning.
Responsibilities between concrete ministries/agencies were agreed upon regarding sectoral trade
regulations to be prepared by the end of 2004.
Technical assistance under CARDS is provided to 9 transposition groups.
Importance has been given to coordination on a national level: a steering group has been set up,
composed of ministers headed by the deputy PM responsible for the economy.
Future work:
Inform producers about the requirements related to trade regulations.
FYR of Macedonia (Mrs S. Kuzmanovska/Mr. Z. Grkov)
In 2002, laws were adopted on: accreditation; standardization; metrology; technical requirements for
products, etc.
New laws provide the framework, namely, for the separation of regulatory and execution functions
and also for activities under concrete agencies.
In 2003, new independent accreditation and standardization institutions were established.
An EU CARDS project on improving quality infrastructure is under implementation.
A second presentation from the FYR of Macedonia was devoted to the free movement of goods and
the necessary quality infrastructure on a national level.
The FYR of Macedonia had established an inter-ministerial working group for the free movement of
goods with 11 sub groups on particular matters including on trade regulations and standards.
Future work:
With reference to common regional concerns, it was noted that during the EU sponsored conference
for the Balkan countries held in 2000 in FYR of Macedonia the following areas of common
regulatory interest were noted:

Transfer of information (laws, institutions, certification bodies, experts in concrete areas);

Transfer of knowledge (education, training, etc.);

Inter-laboratory comparisons;

Assistance to business operators (organization of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and
Environmental Management Systems (EMS) systems, calibration standards, etc.).
The need for strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of Economy, as a leading ministry in the
process of transposition of EU Directives into national legislation, assisting the economy in their
implementation, and the coordination of quality infrastructure activities, was additionally stressed.
Republic of Moldova (Mrs. A. Alexandrova)
Regulatory interests should be analyzed in the context of trade.
Their main trading partners in the Balkan area are, first of all, Romania and, to a lesser extent,
Bulgaria.
Moldova had concluded a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Romania, and an agreement on
standardization and related matters with Bulgaria.
Information was provided on the commodity structure of exports/imports in Moldova’s trade with
individual countries in the region.
Laws on standardization, on technical obstacles to trade and on product conformity assessment had
been established in the legal framework in the country.
A concept of mandatory standards had been introduced (examples of such standards: preparation of
technical regulations, adoption of international standards, etc).
Future work:
1.
2.
Model legislation based on EU directives;
Market surveillance.
Romania (Mrs. A. Sandru)
Priorities are based primarily on the task of accession to the EU and are aimed at creating the
necessary administrative and institutional capacity to implement EU legislation.
Other tasks/priorities include:
1. Providing information to business operators on the requirements of new trade regulations;
2. The need to fund adoption of harmonized standards;
3. Training in drawing up of EU-based trade regulations;
4. Participation in the technical committees of the EU and international standardizing organizations;
5. Awareness campaigns;
6. Information exchange in trade regulations and standards.
Future work:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Transposition of New Approach directives;
Drawing up EU-based trade regulations (procedures and experiences);
Regional data base on trade regulations and requirements for placing products on markets
(such information is currently lacking);
Low number of cooperation agreements between accreditation, standardization, metrology and
certification bodies in the region, and also between testing laboratories;
Low number of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs).
Serbia and Montenegro (Mr. A. Haskic)
An institutional framework has been built up in the form of an Accreditation body, an Intellectual
Property Institute, an Institute for Measurements and Precious Metals and an Institute for
Standardization
Laws were under preparation: on trademarks, on design and models; on geography indications, on
metrology and on accreditation, etc.
Technical assistance on quality infrastructure under the Danish project from the EU is provided.
Future work:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Approximation to EU legislation;
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) in the Balkan
region;
Elimination of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) in trade between Balkan countries and
cooperation between relevant institutions;
A regional strategy for industry to get prepared for free trade in the Balkans.
Concluding session
Participants agreed on the importance of information exchanges such as those made during the
meeting since this contributes to a better understanding of developments at a national level which
could also be considered in sub-regional and regional contexts.
Conclusions
Participants agreed on the following areas which will constitute the subject for further work under this
project (not in priority order):
1.
All aspects relating to approximation to EU legislation;
2.
Experience in drafting and implementing horizontal national legislation on technical
regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures;
3.
Measures/mechanisms for coordinating activities on a national level, how to inform/involve all
stakeholders in the process of preparation/application of trade regulations;
4.
Sharing experiences on how to involve all stakeholders in the revision of the technical legal
framework, and on the best ways to inform industry of new requirements;
5.
Regional exchange of information regarding requirements for placing goods on markets
(information on future regulatory work);
6.
Sectoral mutual recognition projects could contribute to enhancing trade (taking into account
the commitments of each country with respect to its relations with the EU);
7.
Market surveillance issues in general and in concrete matters, for example, in the area of motor
vehicles; or in establishing regional (EU-related and/or compatible) information systems on
dangerous goods.
It was agreed that the UNECE secretariat should draw up a draft work programme including future
activities to be dealt with under the UNECE/SIDA project.
THANKS
At the closure of the meeting the participants thanked the UNECE secretariat for its initiative in
launching this project and thanked SIDA for providing the funds to support the participation of
Balkan delegates in this meeting.
Participants also expressed their gratitude to the Slovenian Ministry of Economy for the excellent
organization of the meeting and for providing all necessary support and arrangements for it.
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