PURPOSE : to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council and Commission Decision 2004/239/EC concerning the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part.
CONTENT : the Council adopted this Decision approving the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, following the completion of the ratification process in the Member States.
This Agreement shall replace the existing which was signed by Exchange of letters in April 1997 and entered into force on 1/1/1998.
The new Stabilisation and Association Agreement is a new type of Agreement created for the countries of the Stabilisation and Associaton process of the Western Balkan Region, and focuses on the following elements:
- the inclusion of political dialogue with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM);
- provisions on enhanced regional co-operation, including the perspective of establishing free trade areas between the countries of the region;
- the perspective of the establishment of a free-trade area between the Community and the FYROM within 10 years after the entry into force of the Agreement;
- provisions on the movement of workers, freedom of establishment, supply of services, current payments and movement of capital;
- the commitment by the FYROM to approximate its legislation to that of the EC, notably in key areas of the internal market;
- provisions on co-operation with the FYROM in a wide range of fields, including justice and home affairs;
- provision for the establishment of an Association and Stabilisation Council which supervises the implementation of the agreement, of a Stabilisation and Association Committee and of an Association and Stabilisation Parliamentary Committee.
This Agreement sets general principles which call for the respect for the democratic principles and human rights; the respect for international law principles and the rule of law as well as the principles of market economy; international and regional peace and stability, the development of good neighbourly relations are central to the Stabilisation and Association Process. These principles shall form the basis of the domestic and external policies of the Parties and constitute essential elements of this Agreement.
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia commits itself to enter into co-operation and good neighbourly relations with the other countries of the region including an appropriate level of mutual concessions concerning the movement of persons, goods, capital and services as well as the development of projects of common interest. This commitment constitutes a key factor in the development of the relations and co-operation between the Parties and thus contributes to regional stability.
It should be noted that the more favourable trade concessions granted by Council Regulation 2007/2000/EC of 18 September (asamended by Council Regulation 2563/2000/EC of 20 November 2000) will continue to apply. In parallel to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement relations in inland transport, this will continue to be covered by the Transport Agreement between the European Community and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (28 November 1997).
ENTRY INTO FORCE : Ratification by all Member States is a prerequisite for the entry into force of the Agreement.�