MANAMA, 31 October 2006 — Italian Minister for International Trade and European Affairs Emma Bonino urged the EU and Gulf states on Sunday to move ahead and sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), expressing hope that the deal would be signed by the end of this year. Her comments were made during the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Italy’s Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture (UNIONCAMERE).
“We are in the last stage of negotiations and I hope that we will finalize the agreement by the end of the year,” Bonino said. “The agreement is being negotiated by the EU commission and as a member state we are behind. Italy has a strong interest and determination to over come the obstacles. No treaty is ever perfect but after 15 years of negotiations we feel the time has come to make the final push.”