EU hopefuls take case
to Budapest
Budapest,
4 April 2000 - The International Chamber
of Commerce congress here next month will be a unique opportunity for the prime
ministers of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic to press for their countries'
timely accession to the European Union before an audience of world business
leaders.
Gnter Verheugen,
the EU's enlargement commissioner, will address the ICC's World Congress in
the Hungarian capital on "The new Europe in the world economy". In an interview
in today's Financial Times, Mr Verheugen, sought to reassure applicant countries,
particularly Poland and Hungary, about the rate of progress of accession talks.
"Nobody has reason to be
nervous," he said.
The three prime ministers
- Viktor Orbn of Hungary, Jerzy Buzek of Poland, and Milos
Zeman of the Czech Republic - will each address the first plenary session
on 3 May.
Among other newsmakers
who will be in Budapest is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization,
Mike Moore, who will deliver a key-note address on the world trade agenda
and the need to restore trade liberalization momentum after the setback in Seattle.
Participants will also focus
on Russia's economic prospects under the new administration of Vladimir Putin.
Speakers will include Grigory Yavlinsky, outspoken leader of the reformist
Yabloko party, who was placed third in the Russian presidential elections in
March.
A group of senior Russian
business leaders will travel to the Congress to promote a more positive image
of Russian business. During the Congress, the ICC World Council will debate
the admission of a Russian national committee, which if successful, would mark
the first time Russian business has been represented in the respected world
business organisation.
These and other financial
subjects will be debated by an array of experts whose views make world headlines.
They include Jeffrey D. Sachs of Harvard University; Jagdish Bhagwati
of Columbia University; Jeffrey Garten, Yale School of Management, and
David Hale, of Zurich Financial Services.
For further information
about the ICC World Congress, Budapest (May 3-5) or to enquire about media registration,
contact the ICC Communications Dept in Paris on: 01 49 53 29 87 or visit our
website at www.iccwbo.org
Budapest
Congress home page