EN Official Journal of the European Union L 55/30

COUNCIL DECISION

of 20 February 2006

on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Croatia and repealing Decision 2004/648/EC

(2006/145/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 1a and 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 of materialising the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

(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.

(3) The Council adopted on 13 September 2004 a European Partnership with Croatia (2).

(4) On 3 October 2005, the Member States started negotiations with Croatia on its accession to the European Union. The advancement 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 Partnership, as regularly revised.

(5) It is therefore appropriate to adopt an Accession Partnership which updates the current Partnership in order to identify renewed priorities for further work, on the basis of the findings of 2005 Progress Report on Croatia’s preparations for further integration with the European Union.

(6) Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 stated that the follow-up to the Accession Partnerships will be ensured within the framework of the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process.

(7) In order to prepare for further integration with the European Union, Croatia is expected to develop a plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities of this Accession Partnership.

(8) Decision 2004/648/EC should therefore be repealed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

In accordance with Article 1a of Regulation (EC) No 533/2004, the principles, priorities and conditions in the Accession Partnership with Croatia are set out in the Annex hereto which forms an integral part of this Decision.

Article 2

The implementation of the Accession Partnership shall be examined through the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably the annual Progress Reports presented by the Commission.

Article 3

Decision 2004/648/EC shall be repealed.

Article 4

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

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2006. For the Council The President J. PRÖLL

(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 2004/648/EC of 13 September 2004 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Croatia (OJ L 297, 22.9.2004, p. 19).