Czech Parliament supports FTA

By Kim Se-jeong

Three weeks ago, the Czech Republic’s legislative body came to an agreement that it supported the Korea-European Union free trade agreement (FTA), according to the vice-speaker of the Upper Parliament.

“The Czech parliament passed the Korea-EU FTA law last week,” said Senator Jiri Sneberger last week, who led a delegation of six senators on a visit to Korea, during an interview with The Korea Times.

His statement came in the same week that Italy had threatened to veto the trade deal.

Last Tuesday, AFP quoted Adolfo Urso, the Italian junior minister for trade, as saying that Rome could veto the deal.

"We have asked for changes, especially for the auto sector, but unfortunately our suggestions were not accepted," Urso was quoted as saying.

Strong opposition rose from the automobile industry, which is anxious about losing its market as the FTA would lift tariffs on cars coming from Korea.

The Czech Republic is one of the 27 member states of the EU, with which Korea agreed on the FTA last year.

But, the final signature wasn’t signed, which could happen as early as this month.

For that, Kim Jong-hoon, the trade minister, met his EU counterpart Karel De Gucht in Brussels last week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The accord still has to be ratified by each member state’s legislative body.

The Czech Republic is host to Korea’s carmaker, Hyundai Motor Company, which has a manufacturing plant in Nosovice close to the eastern border, producing 200,000 cars annually.

The Czech delegation, the second highest group in rank, was invited by to visit Korea by the National Assembly.

Six delegates are members of the legal and constitutional affairs committee, and all seven including the vice-speaker were previously mayors.

Between 1998 and 2004, Sneberger was the mayor of Pilsen, a city located in the western Bohemian region. Beer from the city has made its name famous around the world.

During a week-long visit last week, the senator also met the mayor of a prospective Korean sister city: Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province.

“The Mayor of Changwon suggested to me the idea of sister cities, which I think is a great idea,” he said.

Operating in the two cities is Doosan Group, one of the Korean conglomerates. It recently acquired Skoda Power, a steam turbine manufacturer, based in Pilsen, and the delegation visited the company’s Changwon factory during their visit.