Deklaracija Republike Avstrije, Republike Finske, Republike Islandije, Kneževine Liechtenstein, Kraljevine Norveške, Kraljevine Švedske in Švicarske konfederacije (države članice EFTE) in Republike Slovenije

The Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden and the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter called the EFTA countries)

and

the Republic of Slovenia (hereinafter called Slovenia)

Welcoming the independence of Slovenia as a sovereign state and the establishment of national institutions,

Adhering to the principles of democracy and political pluralism, inspired by the common objective of fostering human, cultural and economic contacts across borders,

Recalling the EFTA countries' support for the efforts undertaken by Slovenia in the restructuring process, inter alia, through their participation in the co-ordinated aid of the Group of 24,

Recalling the intention of Slovenia to participate actively in the integration process in Europe and expressing their willingness to cooperate in seeking ways and means to strengthen this process,

Determined to promote, expand and diversify trade and economic relations, thus creating a favourable and supportive environment for further co-operation based on mutuality, benefit, non-discrimination and reciprocity,

Aware of the importance of giving full effect to all the provisions and principles of the CSCE process, and in particular those set out in the Helsinki Final Act, the concluding documents of the Madrid, Vienna and Copenhagen meetings, and those of the Charter of Paris for a new Europe, particularly with regard to the rule of law, democracy and human rights, as well as those of the Bonn CSCE Conference on Economic Co-operation,

Recognizing the importance of guaranteeing the rights of ethnic and national groups and minorities, in accordance with the undertakings made within the context of the CSCE,

Hereby declare their intention to explore further the possibilities for and the scope of future co-operation, inter alia, in the following areas:

1. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall, building on already existing bilateral co-operation, promote and widen contacts with the aim of achieving relations based on market economy principles.

2. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall to this end develop their co-operation in particular with the aim of creating an environment conducive and supportive of private entrepreneurship, free competition and economic activity based on market forces.

3. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall examine concrete ways and means of expanding and liberalizing their trade relations taking into account their international obligations, in particular the principles and provisions of the GATT.

4. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall seek to create conditions favourable to an expansion of trade, inter alia, by

– developing customs and tariff co-operation,

– removing technical barriers to trade,

– facilitating exchange of information on foreign trade.

5. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall seek to broaden cooperation in areas particularly important for liberalizing their trade relations, inter alia, by

– facilitating an exchange of views on conditions for free and undistorted competition without government intervention in the market,

– exchanging information on an opening up of public procurement markets,

– encouraging co-operation in the area of intellectual property rights.

6. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall encourage and stimulate business contacts with the aim of developing their mutual trade.

7. The EFTA countries and Slovenia shall take all measures with the aim of creating conditions necessary for the establishment of free trade.

8. The EFTA countries and Slovenia will, when conditions permit, jointly examine the actions to be taken to establish a free trade area, taking into account the provisions of the GATT.

9. The EFTA countries and Slovenia will promote mutual scientific co-operation and to that end facilitate the exchange of research information in fields of common interest. They will furthermore cooperate in order to create favourable conditions conducive to capital flows and investment in all economic sectors of mutual interest. They will, inter alia, promote different forms of industrial co-operation, including the establishment of joint ventures. To that end they will conclude, as appropriate, bilateral agreements on the promotion and protection of investment.

10. The EFTA countries and Slovenia hereby establish a Joint Committee.

11. The Joint Committee shall review the co-operation in areas referred to in the present Declaration and shall discuss any other issue of mutual interest. The Joint Committee shall formulate appropriate recommendations on any co-operation between the EFTA countries and Slovenia.

12. The Joint Committee shall normally meet once a year at an appropriate level in the EFTA countries and in Slovenia alternately.

13. The secretariat services for the Joint Committee shall be performed jointly by the EFTA Secretariat and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.

DONE at Reykjavik, at a meeting at Ministerial level, this 20th day of May 1992.