The Thirty-First Meeting of the Committee was held in Baky on 9-10 September 2008. The members discussed a Draft Report and Draft Recommendation on “The World Trade Organization and economic development of the BSEC Member States”.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation places particular importance on the trade liberalization and integration of the regional market and in turn on aligning to the WTO rules which are unique and comprehensive mechanism in regulating trade relations between countries.  The PABSEC positively assesses the expansion of the WTO system to the Black Sea region contributing to the establishment of a predictable and stable trade regime necessary for the sustainable economic development and prosperity of the BSEC member states. Continuing cooperation between the member states and WTO promotes the facilitation of their economic reforms , as well as their access in the world markets.

The Thirty-Second Meeting of the Committee will be held in Belgrade on 18-19 March 2009. The main topic of the agenda will be “Development of the Sea Transport in the BSEC Member States: Problems and Perspectives”. The Rapporteur on the Report will be Mr. Reşat Doğru, Member of the Committee (Turkey) and on the Recommendation Mr. Gagik Minasyan, Chairman of the Committee (Armenia).