The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Emmanuel MAUREL (GUE/NGL, FR) 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.
As a reminder, the proposal aims at extending until 31 December 2025 the period of application of Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories linked to the Stabilisation and Association process implemented by the European Union in respect of the Western Balkans.
The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows.
Members considered that the EU shall continue to promote access to the EU market for the countries concerned. They considered that extending the period of application of Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 is a suitable guarantee to ensure the Union's enhanced and proactive commitment to the trade integration of the Western Balkans. They stressed that the current system of autonomous trade measures remains a valuable support for the economies of the Balkan partners.
Entitlement to benefit from the preferential arrangements introduced by the Regulation shall be conditional on the willingness of the beneficiary entities in the Western Balkans to engage in effective economic reforms and regional cooperation with other countries concerned by the EU Stabilisation and Association Process, in particular through the establishment of free trade areas in accordance with Article XXIV of the GATT 1994 and other relevant WTO provisions.