WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: ROMANIA DECLINES TO

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 001114

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH
STATE FOR EUR/EB/TPP/MTA/MST - JALLEN
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR
USDOC FOR 4232/JBURGESS/JKIMBALL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON RO WTO
SUBJECT: WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: ROMANIA DECLINES TO
SUBMIT AN INDEPENDENT PROPOSAL

REF: (A) STATE 58384; (B) STATE 81619; (C) BUCHAREST 00839

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (U) EconOff delivered the key points in reference (B) on
WTO services negotiations to Foreign Trade Department
Director General for Trade Policy Vasile Radu on May 4, 2005.


2. (SBU) Radu responded on May 10, restating Romania's
previous position that the GOR will not submit an independent
services offer due to the GOR's recent signing of the Treaty
of Accession and scheduled entry into the EU on January 1,

2007. By signing the Treaty, Romania is no longer an EU
candidate country, but an accession country. Upon entering
the EU, Romania must undertake the same commitments in the
services area that are applicable to all EU members. He
opined that Romania's membership in the EU will probably
occur before the conclusion of the Doha round and entry into
force of its results. Under these circumstances, he
concluded it would be counterproductive for Romania to submit
a separate list of proposals or enter into negotiation
outside of EU common positions.
DELARE