December 19, 2006
U. S. Department of State

Bucharest signing of new Central European Free Trade Agreement
Statement by Sean McCormack, spokesman

The United States congratulates all ten parties – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, UNMIK/Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Romania – who signed the expanded Central European Free Trade Agreement today in Bucharest. The agreement consolidates 32 existing bilateral free trade agreements, assists non-World Trade Organization countries to prepare for membership, and leads to the closer economic cooperation that will facilitate accession to the European Union. The agreement is a testament to the new spirit of regional cooperation in Southeast Europe, and a strong signal to foreign investors interested in an emerging common market of 25 million people. We also congratulate the Stability Pact advisors who assisted in the negotiation process.

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