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Brussels, 6.11.2007

COM(2007) 662 final

2007/0239 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

At its meeting of 15-16 December 2005, the European Council decided to grant the status of candidate country to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As a consequence, the name of the partnership of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, established on the basis of Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004, should be changed from ‘European Partnership’ into ‘Accession Partnership’, in order to align this with the name of the Partnerships with the two other candidate countries, Croatia and Turkey.

Indeed, in order to make the instrument of the partnerships more understandable, it is appropriate to have the same name for the partnerships for those countries which have the same status in the accession process. This is in line with the wording of the 2005 Strategy Paper on enlargement.

The proposal also includes an amendment to take into account the independence of Montenegro.

The Commission therefore invites the Council to adopt the attached proposed regulation.

2007/0239 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 181a (2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission[1],

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament[2],

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 of 22 March 2004, as last amended, on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process[3] provides that partnerships will be established for all the Western Balkan countries.

(2) The European Council decided at its meeting in Brussels in December 2005 that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall be a candidate country for membership of the European Union.

(3) It is therefore appropriate to provide that instead of a European Partnership, the European Union shall implement in its relations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia an Accession Partnership and to amend Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 accordingly.

(4) The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro has ceased to exist. Therefore, it is appropriate to amend the Regulation to take into account the fact that Serbia as well as Montenegro are now two independent states.

(5) The Regulation covers Accession Partnerships as well as European Partnerships. Therefore, the full text needs to take this into account.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 is hereby amended as follows:

1) Article 1 shall be replaced by the following:

'Article 1

European Partnerships shall be established to cover Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia including Kosovo as defined by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999, (hereinafter referred to as the partners). The European Partnerships shall provide a framework covering the priorities resulting from the analysis of the partners' different situations, on which preparations for further integration into the European Union must concentrate in the light of the criteria defined by the European Council, and the progress made in implementing the stabilisation and association process including stabilisation and association agreements, where appropriate, and in particular regional cooperation.'

2) Article 1a is replaced by the following:

'Article 1a

As part of the stabilisation and association process, Accession Partnerships for Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall be established. The Accession Partnerships shall provide a framework covering the priorities resulting from the analysis of the situation in each country, on which preparations for accession must concentrate in the light of the Copenhagen criteria defined by the European Council and the progress made in implementing the stabilisation and association process, including the Stabilisation and Association Agreements concluded with those countries[4], and in particular regional cooperation.'

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

[1] OJ C , , p. .

[2] OJ C , , p. .

[3] 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).

[4] OJ L 84, 20.3.2004, p. 3. (OJ L 26, 28.1.2005, p. 3).