London Summit

LONDON SUMMIT MEETING

Thursday 4th December 2003

INTERNATIONAL LAW ON INCENTIVES, BENEFITS, COMPETITION AND STATE AID

Practical advice for Free Zones, Science and Industrial Parks, Regional and National Governments and Authorities

A recent investigation by the European Union Competition Directorate into the public sponsorship of a programme for incubator funds in the UK could be a foretaste of battles ahead worldwide. Whilst the rules that govern this sort of state aid are fairly clear, up to now much state support has escaped scrutiny: An additional factor is the increasing influence of the WTO.

One of our December speakers has said to us in his acceptance letter:
"Actually, I've been quite surprised over the general lack of communication between the WTO and free zones around the world.. If your organization could overcome this problem it would be tremendously important!"

The meeting in December 2003 set out to do just this in an Open Forum.

Who attended? Senior government officials with responsibility for or an interest in the future and legal status of Free Zones, Science and Industrial Parks as well as commercial operators, trans-national companies and others concerned with the WTO, Competition and State Aid issues.

09.30	Chairman's Introduction - Graham Mather President, European Policy Forum
09.45	ZONES AND THEIR ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
	Paul Bailey Senior Technical Specialist, International Labour Office, Geneva
10.15	THE LEGAL POSITION OF ECONOMIC ZONES AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
	Francesca Trampus Author, WFZC Free Zone Report 2003, University of Trieste
	Lode Van den Hende Trade and WTO law practice, Herbert Smith, Brussels
11.00	Coffee
11.30	THE CURRENT APPROACH OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION
	Jesse Kreier Legal Counsellor, Secretary, Rules Negotiating Group, WTO, Geneva
12.00	THE COMPATABILITY OF ECONOMIC FREE ZONES WITH WTO LAW
	(This session included a proposal for new legal text to be included in the WTO regime)
	Olle Petterson Author of MIGA sponsored Report, University of Uppsala
12.30	THE RESPONSE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
	Marjut Hannonen WTO Liaison Unit, Trade Directorate, European Commission, Brussels
13.00	Lunch
14.15	ZONES, REGIONS, GOVERNMENTS AND EVOLVING STATE AID ISSUES
	THE WAY FORWARD - SPEAKER PANEL AND DELEGATES' COMMENTS
	Randy Campbell Executive Director, National Association of Foreign Trade Zones, Washington
	Simon Evenett Co-Author, 'Singapore Issues' Report, Said Business School, Oxford
	Michel Lacave Former President, International Association of Science Parks, France
	Mario Pines University of Trieste
	Robert Vodopivec University of Ljubjana
16.45	CHAIRMAN'S SUMMING UP AND CLOSE OF CONFERENCE