Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the Stabilisation and Association process

The European Parliament adopted by 605 votes to 20 with 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process.  

The report had been sent back to the competent committee on the plenary sitting of 11 May 2011.

Parliament adopted its position in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise negotiated between Parliament and Council. The amendments to the Commission proposal aim essentially to take into account the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty with regard to the adoption of delegated acts and also ensure that the Commission’s powers should be exercised in accordance with the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers.  

Delegated acts: the Commission will have the power to adopt delegated acts regarding:

• the necessary amendments and technical adjustments to Annexes I and II following amendments to the Combined Nomenclature codes and to the TARIC subdivisions;
• the necessary adjustments following the granting of trade preferences under other arrangements between the Union and the countries and territories referred to in this Regulation.

The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission until the expiry of the Regulation and may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council.

A delegated act shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Implementing powers: in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the Regulation implementing powers are conferred on the Commission with regard to the suspension of the entitlement to benefit from the preferential arrangements in the event of non-compliance, the issuing of authenticity certificates attesting that the goods originate in the country or territory concerned and correspond to the definition in the Regulation, and for the temporary suspension, in whole or in part, of the arrangements provided for in this Regulation, implementing powers. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers.