Czechs promise to withdraw apple quotas


05 May 1998


Czechs promise to withdraw apple quotas

THE Czech Republic agreed to withdraw an apple import quota raising optimism that a dispute between the former Soviet state and the European Union (EU) is close to resolution.

The apple dispute had threatened to hamper the Czech Republics EU accession negotiations.

Josef Lux, Czech agriculture minister, said EU aid had been promised to fruit and vegetable farmers to improve their marketing and enhance their competitiveness. Czech farmers will also become eligible for EU aid to prepare them for accession from 2000.

The Czech Republic and the EU are also poised to sign a veterinary equivalency agreement providing a framework to allow them to recognised each others hygiene inspection rules for meat and meat products.

  • Financial Times 05/05/98 page 9

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