PURPOSE: to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council and Commission Decision 2009/332/EC, Euratom concerning the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part.

CONTENT: this Decision concludes the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and their Member States, of the one part, and Albania, of the other part, the Annexes and Protocols annexed thereto, as well as the Declarations attached to the Final Act.

The aims of the Association are:

to support the efforts of Albania to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, to contribute to political, economic and institutional stability in Albania, as well as to the stabilisation of the region, to provide an appropriate framework for political dialogue, allowing the development of close political relations between the Parties, to support the efforts of Albania to develop its economic and international cooperation, also through the approximation of its legislation to that of the Community, — to support the efforts of Albania to complete the transition into a functioning market economy, to promote harmonious economic relations and develop gradually a free trade area between the Community and Albania, to foster regional cooperation in all the fields covered by this Agreement.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement focuses on the following main elements:

provision for political dialogue with Albania; provisions on enhanced regional co-operation, including the perspective of establishing free trade areas between the countries of the region; the perspective of the establishment of a free-trade area between the Community and Albania within ten years of the entry into force of the Agreement; provisions on the movement of workers, freedom of establishment, supply of services, current payments and movement of capital; the commitment by Albania to approximate its legislation to that of the EC, notably in key areas of the internal market; provisions on co-operation with Albania in a wide range of fields, including justice, freedom and security; provision for the establishment of a Stabilisation and Association Council which supervises the implementation of the Agreement, of a Stabilisation and Association Committee and a Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.

Amongst the main general clauses on which the Agreement is based, there is the traditional clause on respect for democratic principles and human rights as well as a new clause on international and regional peace and stability, which requires the development of good neighbourly relations between Albania and its Balkan neighbours. This commitment constitutes a key factor in the development of the relations and cooperation between the Parties and thus contributes to regional stability.

The Parties also reaffirm the importance that they attach to the fight against terrorism and the implementation of international obligations in this area. The preamble to the Agreement refers to Albania’s status as a potential candidate for European Union membership on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, subject to the successful implementation of the Agreement, notably regarding regional cooperation.

The Agreement recalls the European Union’s readiness to integrate to the fullest possible extent Albania into the political and economic mainstream of Europe and its status as a potential candidate for European Union membership on the basis of the Treaty on European Union and fulfilment of the criteria defined by the European Council in June 1993, subject to the successful implementation of this Agreement, notably regarding regional cooperation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Agreement shall enter into force when all of the necessary procedures have been completed. In the event that, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement, the provisions of certain parts of this Agreement, in particular those relating to the free movement of goods as well as the relevant provisions on transport, are put into effect by means of Interim Agreements between the Community and Albania. From the date of its entry into force, this Agreement shall replace the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Albania on trade and commercial and economic cooperation, signed at Brussels on 11 May 1992. This shall not affect any right, obligation or legal situation of the parties created through the execution of that Agreement.

Decision 2009/332
OJ L 107 28.04.2009, p. 0165

PURPOSE: to present a proposal for a Council and Commission Decision on a Community Position concerning a Decision of the EU – Albania Stabilisation and Association Council on its Rules of Procedure.

CONTENT: the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Albania, of on the other, will enter into force on 1 April 2009, following the completion of its ratification by all Member States on 26 February 2009.

The Stabilisation and Association Council established by Article 116 of the said Agreement supervises the implementation of the Agreement and examines any major issues arising within its framework, and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest.

As provided in Article 117 of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall establish its rules of procedure. In conformity with Article 120 of the Agreement, these rules of procedure determine the duties of the Stabilisation and Association Committee, which shall assist the Stabilisation and Association Council in the performance of its duties.

As laid down by Article 2(1) of Council Decision of 26 February 2009 on the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the Community position in the Stabilisation and Association Council will be established by decision of the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission.

The Council is therefore invited to approve the proposal.

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Stabilisation and Association Council in relation to the rules of procedures and to the delegation of its powers to the Stabilisation and Association Committee shall be based on the draft decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council, annexed to this Decision. Minor amendments to this draft decision may be accepted without further decision of the Council.

EUR-Lex
COM(2009)0144

SP(2006)4772

Results of vote in Parliament

Debate in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Toomas Henrik ILVES (PES, EE) and gave its assent to the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and the Republic of Albania.

T6-0339/2006

A6-0246/2006

A6-0246/2006

The committee adopted the report by Toomas Henrik ILVES (PES, EE) recommending that Parliament give its assent to the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and the Republic of Albania.

PE374.318

PE376.328

PURPOSE : to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : this proposal replaces the Commission’s proposal, which was made in March 2006. It confirms the essential points of that proposal: to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and their Member States and Albania.

This proposal for a decision does not make any crucial modifications to the Commission’s initial proposal (please see the summary of the previous initial proposal dated 21 March 2006).

08161/2006

This document constitutes the text of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and Albania, which agreement was signed by the parties on 12 June 2006 at Luxembourg.

For details of the agreement, please see the summary of the initial proposal presented by the Commission on 21/03/2006.

08164/2006

PURPOSE : to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : this proposal replaces the Commission’s proposal, which was made in March 2006. It confirms the essential points of that proposal: to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and their Member States and Albania.

This proposal for a decision does not make any crucial modifications to the Commission’s initial proposal (please see the summary of the previous initial proposal dated 21 March 2006).

08161/2006

PURPOSE: to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : The proposed Stabilisation and Association Agreement is similar to those already concluded with Croatia (please see AVC/2004/0119 ) and with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( AVC/2001/0049 ).

Negotiations for the Agreement were launched in 2003, and were felt by the Commission to be the best way of helping to maintain the momentum of political and economic reform, and of encouraging Albania to continue its constructive and moderating influence in the region. Following seven official rounds of negotiation, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was initialled in Tirana on 18 February 2006.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement focuses on the following main elements:

§ provision for political dialogue with Albania;

§ provisions on enhanced regional co-operation, including the perspective of establishing free trade areas between the countries of the region;

§ the perspective of the establishment of a free-trade area between the Community and Albania within ten years of the entry into force of the Agreement;

§ provisions on the movement of workers, freedom of establishment, supply of services, current payments and movement of capital;

§ the commitment by Albania to approximate its legislation to that of the EC, notably in key areas of the internal market;

§ provisions on co-operation with Albania in a wide range of fields, including justice, freedom and security;

§ provision for the establishment of a Stabilisation and Association Council which supervises the implementation of the Agreement, of a Stabilisation and Association Committee and a Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.

Amongst the main general clauses on which the Agreement is based, there is the traditional clause on respect for democratic principles and human rights as well as a new clause on international and regional peace and stability, which requires the development of good neighbourly relations between Albania and its Balkan neighbours. This commitment constitutes a key factor in the development of the relations and cooperation between the Parties and thus contributes to regional stability.

The Parties also reaffirm the importance that they attach to the fight against terrorism and the implementation of international obligations in this area. The preamble to the Agreement refers to Albania’s status as a potential candidate for European Union membership on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, subject to the successful implementation of the Agreement, notably regarding regional cooperation.

COM(2006)0138
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : The proposed Stabilisation and Association Agreement is similar to those already concluded with Croatia (please see AVC/2004/0119 ) and with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( AVC/2001/0049 ).

Negotiations for the Agreement were launched in 2003, and were felt by the Commission to be the best way of helping to maintain the momentum of political and economic reform, and of encouraging Albania to continue its constructive and moderating influence in the region. Following seven official rounds of negotiation, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was initialled in Tirana on 18 February 2006.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement focuses on the following main elements:

§ provision for political dialogue with Albania;

§ provisions on enhanced regional co-operation, including the perspective of establishing free trade areas between the countries of the region;

§ the perspective of the establishment of a free-trade area between the Community and Albania within ten years of the entry into force of the Agreement;

§ provisions on the movement of workers, freedom of establishment, supply of services, current payments and movement of capital;

§ the commitment by Albania to approximate its legislation to that of the EC, notably in key areas of the internal market;

§ provisions on co-operation with Albania in a wide range of fields, including justice, freedom and security;

§ provision for the establishment of a Stabilisation and Association Council which supervises the implementation of the Agreement, of a Stabilisation and Association Committee and a Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.

Amongst the main general clauses on which the Agreement is based, there is the traditional clause on respect for democratic principles and human rights as well as a new clause on international and regional peace and stability, which requires the development of good neighbourly relations between Albania and its Balkan neighbours. This commitment constitutes a key factor in the development of the relations and cooperation between the Parties and thus contributes to regional stability.

The Parties also reaffirm the importance that they attach to the fight against terrorism and the implementation of international obligations in this area. The preamble to the Agreement refers to Albania’s status as a potential candidate for European Union membership on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, subject to the successful implementation of the Agreement, notably regarding regional cooperation.

COM(2006)0138
EUR-Lex