Commercial
Opportunities
Enlargement
will complete the removal of barriers to trade between
the current EU15 and the new member states. This will
create the world’s largest single market, with everyone
working to the same rules. UK businesses will operate
in a barrier-free market, providing access to a wider
range of suppliers as well as export and investment
opportunities. UK consumers will have access to a wider
range of goods and services.
Why
should UK business trade with and invest in the accession
countries?
How
far have barriers to trade already been removed?
What
business opportunities is European Aid creating?
Why
should UK business trade with and invest in the accession
countries?
Enlargement
of the EU will make trade with and investment in the
accession countries easier because:
- Enlargement
will involve the removal of remaining barriers to
trade and investment.
- The
business environment in accession countries is already
improving as accession approaches and they enforce
EU single market standards.
- The
economies of accession countries are expected to grow
faster than the EU average on accession and for a
number of years afterwards. This was the case with
previous enlargements of the EU, for example Spain
and Portugal’s.
- The
increase in the spending power of accession countries
should create a boost in demand for EU goods and services.
For
more information on opportunities to do business in
the accession countries go to UK
Trade & Investment.
| Who
are UK Trade & Investment?
UK
Trade & Investment works to help UK firms
secure overseas sales and investments.
UK Trade & Investment is responsible for:
Trade development across the English regions and
co-ordination of development and sectoral activity
with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
-
Trade support services provided nationally.
- The commercial work of embassies and other diplomatic
posts.
- Support for exporters' interests within Government.
|
How
far have barriers to trade already been removed?
Accession
countries have been reforming their economies and opening
their markets both to trade and investment for a number
of years. The Europe Agreements (trade and political
co-operation agreements) were signed in the 1990s between
the EU and the Central and Eastern European accession
countries. Through these agreements the European Union
offered countries in Central and Eastern European trade
concessions and other benefits in return for greater
access to their markets. With the exception of agriculture
and steel, the Europe Agreements have now removed most
of the controls on trade such as tariffs and quotas.
Many UK companies have already been investing successfully
in the accession countries. For more information on
the Europe Agreements please see European
Commission's Europe Agreements Webpages
The
Association Agreements with Cyprus, Malta and Turkey
cover similar areas to the Europe Agreements. They aim
to progressively establish customs union between these
countries and the EU15. For more information please
see Commission's
Association Agreements Webpages.
For
more information on
- Importing
goods from the Accession Countries
See
EWT import policy pages.
- Exporting
goods to Accession Countries
Please
see UK
Trade & Investment
| What
is the Export Credits Guarantee Department?
ECGD
is the UK’s official export credit agency. They
work closely with exporters, project sponsors,
banks and buyers to help UK exporters compete
effectively in overseas markets where the private
sector may be unable to help.
For
an up to date list of country cover indications
see ECGD's
website |
What
business opportunities is EU Aid creating?
There
are three major Pre-Accession instruments. They are
worth around € 3 billion per year between 2000 and 2006.
These funds constitute a potentially large source of
direct business. They help accession countries to meet
EU standards in the following areas:
Public
Administration and the Economy- The PHARE programme
funds institution building and investment in the regulatory
framework. The aim is to help accession countries develop
the administrative capacity and systems to implement
the acquis. It is worth around 1.5 billion Euros per
year. Further information is available on the European
Commission's PHARE
Web pages.
Transport
and Environment- The ISPA (Instrument for Structural
Policies for Pre-Accession) programme funds (i) improving
transport infrastructure and trans-European links and
(ii) helping the accession countries to comply with
EU environmental standards e.g. improving water management,
waste management and air pollution. Funding for ISPA
is 1billion Euros per year. For more information go
to ISPA.
Agriculture and rural development through SAPARD
(Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural
Development), provides support for projects related
to sustainable agriculture and rural development. This
helps accession countries meet the agricultural acquis
as well as solving specific problems of transition for
the agricultural sectors and rural areas. SAPARD funding
is over 520 million Euros per year. For details of individual
SAPARD programme's go to SAPARD.
For
more information on Aid funded business contact UK Trade
and Investment Development Business Team at the DTI
by telephone on 020 7215 4624.
If you have any questions please contact DTI’s
enlargement unit:
The main point of contact for assistance on trade and
investment in the accession countries are UK
Trade & Investment and the British Embassy commercial
sections. But DTI’s enlargement team is happy
to discuss enlargement with UK trade associations or
individual businesses. Information about how the single
market is working is particularly useful as we set priorities
for technical assistance.
Enlargement
and Wider Europe Unit
European and World Trade Directorate
Department of Trade and Industry
1 Victoria Street
SW1H 0ET
Michael Porter
Tel: 020 7215 6078
Fax: 020 7215 2235
Email: michael.porter@dti.gsi.gov.uk
