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Brussels, 9.11.2005

COM(2005) 263 final

2005/0226 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)

amending Regulation (EC) No 533/2004

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

This proposal to change the name of the partnership of Croatia from ‘European Partnership’ into ‘Accession Partnership’ is launched in order to align the name of the Croatian Partnership with the name of the Turkey Partnership, as both are candidate countries which have started accession negotiations. In order to make the instrument of the Partnerships more understandable, it is appropriate to have the same name for the Partnerships for both countries which are now in the same stage of their accession process. This is in line with the wording of the 2005 Strategy Paper on enlargement.

The regulation contains the proposals for the changes in the relevant regulation. The Commission therefore invites the Council to adopt the attached proposed regulation.

2005/0226 (CNS)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC)

amending Regulation (EC) No 533/2004

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[3] provides that European partnerships will be established in the framework of the stabilisation and association process for all the Western Balkan countries.

(2) The European Council decided at its meeting in Brussels on 17 and 18 June 2004 that Croatia shall be a candidate country for membership of the European Union. On 3 October 2005, accession negotiations have started with Croatia.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

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

1) In the title, the word « European » is deleted.

2) In Article 1, the word « Croatia » is deleted.

3) The following Article 1a is inserted:

« Article 1a

As part of the stabilisation and association process, an Accession Partnership for Croatia shall be established. The Accession Partnership shall provide a framework covering the priorities resulting from the analysis of the situation in Croatia, 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 Agreement[4], and in particular regional cooperation. »

4) In Article 2, the word « European » is deleted.

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.

[4] OJ L26, 28.1.2005, p. 3.