E. whereas the EU has been the initial model for subsequent regional integration efforts and the gradual establishment of FTAs, models are now diversifying - FTA agreements are evolving to transcend the traditional elimination of trade tariffs, to cover i. a. trade in services, government procurement, non-tariff barriers elimination and non-trade issues; the Parliament acknowledges the steady transformation of EU FTA agreements in their scope and level of ambition for liberalisation ...[+++] and rule-making,

I won't go into the details of EVSL or the accelerated trade liberalization initiative, except to say that we don't expect any progress to be made on accelerated trade liberalization in Geneva.

In particular, the initiative that is known as early voluntary sectoral liberalization did not make any progress and has been brought to Geneva in another form, which they call accelerated trade liberalization.

As an association representing importers and exporters, we support initiatives to liberalize trade, both through the lowering of tariffs as well as the removal of non-tariff barriers.

They have rechristened it the accelerated tariff reduction initiative, ATL, and have apparently brought it to Geneva in some form or shape.

Mr Van Miert noted that liberalization had been a gradual process, with the adoption by the Council of: - a first package of measures in December 1987, which brought in flexible pricing, abandoned the principle of strict capacity sharing and started liberalizing access to the market (multiple designation, fifth freedom) whilst applying the rules of competition, - a second package in June 1990, which reinforced those of the first package by further liberalizing capacity sharing, facilitating market access and giving operators greater freedom to set their fares. 1 COM(91)275. -2- This final package, presented just one year after the adopti ...[+++]on of the preceding one, puts the finishing touches to the organization of air transport in an integrated market.