WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG11/10
25 March 1999
(99-1206)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:  English
CENTRAL EUROPEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT –
ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
The following text reproduces the Agreement on Accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the
Central European Free Trade Agreement1.
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AGREEMENT ON ACESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
TO THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Preamble
The Czech Republic , the Republic of Hungary , the Republic of Poland, Romania, the
Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia, on the one side and the Republic of Bulgaria, on the other
side, (hereinafter called "the Parties"),
Reaffirming  their commitment to the principles of a market economy, which constitutes the
basis for their relations;
Considering  the positive development of the mutual economic cooperation between the Parties;
Wishing  to contribute to the process of integrati on in Europe through the extension of the
Central European Free Trade Agreement;
Having in mind  the Declarations of Prime Minister s, done on 25 November 1994 in Poznan, on
11 September 1995 in Brno, on 13 September 1996 in  Jasna and on 12 September in Portoroz;
Recalling the official request of the Republic of Bulgaria on 30 May 1996 to accede to the
Central European Free Trade Agreement;
Taking into account the Agreement Amending the Central European Free Trade Agreement,
signed in Brno on 11 September 1995,
In accordance  with the provisions of Article 39(a ) of the Central European Free Trade
Agreement;
Have agreed  as follows:
                                                     
1 The Annexes and Protocols thereto have been submitted to the Secretariat for consultation by
interested Members (Office 3006).WT/REG11/10
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Article 1
The Republic of Bulgaria shall accede to th e Central European Free Trade Agreement.
Article 2
The Republic of Bulgaria shall accept the Centra l European Free Trade Agreement with all its
amendments and modifications signed before the signature of this Agreement and shall apply it in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Article 3
References in the Central European Free Trade Ag reement to its Parties and where all states are
explicitly mentioned shall be understood to include the Republic of Bulgaria.
Article 4
The basic duty referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the Central European Free Trade
Agreement, in the case of the Republic of Bulgaria  shall be the Most Favoured Nation rate of duty
applicable on 1 January 1993.
Article 5
1. In order to implement the provisions of paragr aph 2 of Article 3 of the Central European Free
Trade Agreement Protocols 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 to th e Central European Free Trade Agreement are
hereby established.
2. Provisions for the abolition of customs duties on imports between:
- the Czech Republic and the Slovak Repub lic on the one side and the Republic of
Bulgaria on the other side are laid down in Protocol 22,
- the Republic of Hungary on the one side a nd the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side
are laid down in Protocol 23,
- the Republic of Poland on the one side and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side
are laid down in Protocol 24,
- Romania on the one side and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side are laid down
in Protocol 25,
- the Republic of Slovenia on the one side a nd the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side
are laid down in Protocol 26.
Article 6
1. In order to implement the provisions of paragr aph 1 of Article 12 of the Central European Free
Trade Agreement Protocols 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 to th e Central European Free Trade Agreement are
hereby established.
2. Provisions for granting mutual agricultural concessions between:WT/REG11/10
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- the Czech Republic and the Slovak Repub lic on the one side and the Republic of
Bulgaria on the other side are laid down in Protocol 27,
- the Republic of Hungary on the one side a nd the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side
are laid down in Protocol 28,
- the Republic of Poland on the one side and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side
are laid down in Protocol 29,
- Romania on the one side and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side are laid down
in Protocol 30,
- the Republic of Slovenia on the one side a nd the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side
are laid down in Protocol 31.
Article 7
Quantitative restrictions on imports or measures having equivalent effect referred to in
paragraph 2 of Article 8 of the Central European Free Trade Agreement and specified in Annexes III(a),
III(b) and III(c) of the Central European Free Trad e Agreement shall also apply to imports of products
originating in the Republic of Bulgaria, subject to  the provisions in Annex to Article 7 to this
Agreement.
Article 8
For the purposes of this Agreement it is understood that Protocol 7 of the Central European Free
Trade Agreement concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of
administrative cooperation shall also apply to the products originating in the Republic of Bulgaria,
subject to the provisions in Annex to Article 8 to this Agreement.
Article 9
1. References to co-operation in customs administ ration mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 16 of
the Central European Free Trade Agreement shall be understood that the mutual assistance between
administrative authorities in customs matters of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic on the one
side and the Republic of Bulgaria on the other side shall take place in accordance with the provisions of
Annex I to Article 9 of this Agreement.
2. References to co-operation in customs administ ration mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 16 of
the Central European Free Trade Agreement shall be understood that the mutual assistance between
administrative authorities in customs matters of th e Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Bulgaria
shall take place in accordance with the provisions of Annex II to Article 9 of this Agreement.
Article 10
1. References to government procurement in Article 24 of the Central European Free Trade
Agreement shall be understood, in relations between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic on the
one side and the Republic of Bulgaria, on the othe r side as for public procurement and the period
mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 24 shall end by the end of 1998 at the latest.
2. References to government procurement in Article 24 of the Central European Free Trade
Agreement shall be understood, in relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic ofWT/REG11/10
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Bulgaria, as for public procurement and the period mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 24 shall end by
the end of 1999 at the latest.
3. It is agreed that consultations shall be held in the Joint Committee under paragraph 3 of
Article 24 of the Central European Free Trade Ag reement concerning the extension of the treatment
referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to other Parties.
Article 11
This Agreement shall constitute an integral part of the Central European Free Trade Agreement.
Article 12
1. This Agreement shall enter into  force on the thirtieth day after receiving by the Depositary of
the last notification of the Parties to the Central European Free Trade Agreement and the Republic of
Bulgaria on the completion of procedures necessary for that purpose.
2. The Depositary shall, without any delay, notif y all Parties of the completion of procedures
necessary for entry into force of this Agreement.
3. Pending the entry into force of this Agreemen t according to paragraph 1 of this Article the
Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Repub lic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of
Slovenia and the Republic of Bulgaria shall apply this Agreement provisionally from 1 January 1999,
provided that Romania shall notify the other Partie s, prior to 1 December 1998, that its internal legal
requirements for entry into force of this Agreemen t are fulfilled and that Romania shall apply this
Agreement from 1 January 1999.
4. As from the date of entry into force of this  Agreement the free trade agreements concluded
between:
- the Czech Republic and the Republic of Bulgaria signed at Prague on
15 December 1995,
- the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Bulgaria signed at Sofia on 8 December 1995
shall cease to be in force and the free trade agreement concluded between
- the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Bulgaria signed at Sofia on
22 November 1996
shall not enter into force by mutual consen t of the Parties concerned expressed in this
Agreement.
5. As from the date of provisional application of this Agreement the free trade agreements
mentioned in paragraph 4 of this Article sha ll not applied between their Contracting Parties.WT/REG11/10
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipot entiaries, being duly authorized thereto,
have signed this Agreement.
DONE at Sofia this ………………, in a single authentic copy in the English language, which
shall be deposited with the Government of the Republic of Poland.  The Depositary shall transmit
certified copies to all Parties.
For the Czech Republic For the Republic of Bulgaria
For the Republic of Hungary
For the Republic of Poland
For RomaniaFor the Slovak RepublicFor the Republic of Slovenia
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