Czech Ambassador Václav Bálek presented his credentials at the WTO
05.10.2021 / 12:46 | Aktualizováno: 05.10.2021 / 16:58
Václav Bálek, the new Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations Office and the other international organizations in Geneva presented his credentials to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), on 4 October 2021.
During the conversation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appreciated the role of the EU in the WTO. She agreed with Václav Bálek on the importance of the multilateral trading system and the need for concrete outcomes from the upcoming 12th Ministerial Conference. Václav Bálek thanked DG for her engagement in that direction. The challenges faced by the organization are complex. Members need to find a balanced solution in the area of trade and health, so that WTO contributes adequately to the response to current and any future health crises. In relation to sustainability, it is of an utmost importance to conclude the fisheries subsidies negotiations with enough ambition.
Ambassador Bálek also informed about the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2022, which will be an opportunity to support the activities of the block in the efforts to increase the effectiveness of the WTO. He expressed openness to any ideas from DG Okonjo-Iweala as well as interest in further cooperation.