EN Official Journal of the European Union L 42/51

COUNCIL DECISION

of 12 February 2008

on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Croatia and repealing Decision 2006/145/EC

(2008/119/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 of 22 March 2004 on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process (1), and in particular Article 2 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 endorsed the introduction of the Partnerships as a means to materialise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 provides that the Council is to decide on the principles, priorities and conditions to be contained in the Partnerships, as well as any subsequent adjustments. It also states that the follow-up to the Accession Partnerships will be ensured through the mechanisms established under the stabilisation and association process, notably by the annual progress reports.

(3) Following the European Partnership of 2004, the Council adopted on 20 February 2006 the first Accession Partnership with Croatia (2).

(4) On 3 October 2005 the Member States started negotiations with Croatia on its accession to the European Union. The progress of the negotiations will be guided by Croatia’s progress in preparing for accession, which will be measured, inter alia, against the implementation of the Accession Partnership, as regularly revised.

(5) The Commission’s Communication on Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006-2007 indicated that the Partnerships would be updated at the end of 2007.

(6) On 17 July 2006 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 establishing an instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) (3), which renews the framework for financial assistance to pre-accession countries.

(7) It is therefore appropriate to adopt a revised Accession Partnership which updates the current Partnership in order to identify renewed priorities for further work, on the basis of the findings of the 2007 Progress Report on Croatia’s preparations for further integration with the European Union.

(8) In order to prepare for membership, Croatia is expected to develop a plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities of the Accession Partnership.

(9) Decision 2006/145/EC should be repealed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

In accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EC) Νο 533/2004, the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Croatia are set out in the Annex hereto.

Article 2

The implementation of the Accession Partnership shall be examined and monitored through the mechanisms established under the stabilisation and association process, and by the Council on the basis of annual reports presented by the Commission.

Article 3

Decision 2006/145/EC shall be repealed.

Article 4

This Decision shall take effect on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 12 February 2008. For the Council The President A. BAJUK

(1) OJ L 86, 24.3.2004, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 269/2006 (OJ L 47, 17.2.2006, p. 7).

(2) Council Decision 2006/145/EC of 20 February 2006 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Croatia (OJ L 55, 25.2.2006, p. 30).

(3) OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 82.