PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the EC and their Member States and Morocco, in order to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council and Commission Decision 2009/331/EC, Euratom on the conclusion of the Protocol to 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, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

CONTENT : the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Albania, of the other part, was signed in Luxemburg on 12 June 2006 (please refer to AVC/2006/0044 ). Following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, a Protocol has been negotiated and on 7 January 2008.

This Decision approves on behalf of the EC, the European Atomic Energy Community and the Member States, the Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and their Member States, and Albania to take account of the accession of the Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Protocol shall enter into force when all of the necessary procedures have been completed.

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.

The European Parliament adopted, by 502 votes to 17 with 6 abstentions a legislative resolution giving its assent to the conclusion of a Protocol to 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, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union. The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Council document 07998/08 contains the final version of the draft Protocol to 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, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

This proposal for a decision forms the legal act by which the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and Albania, on the other, intend to conclude a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and Albania to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

The Decision requires the European Parliament’s assent.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposed decision and can be found in Council document 07998/08 .

This proposal for a decision forms the legal act by which the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and Albania, on the other, intend to conclude a Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EC and Albania to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

The Decision requires the European Parliament’s assent.

The text of the Protocol is attached to the proposed decision and can be found in Council document 07998/08 .

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted, according to the simplified procedure (Rule 43(1) of the Rules of Procedure), the report drafted by Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP-ED, PL) calling on the European Parliament to give its assent to the conclusion of the Protocol to 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, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

PURPOSE: to include Bulgaria and Romania in the stabilisation and association agreement concluded between the EU and Albania.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: 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, was signed in Luxemburg on 12 June 2006 (please refer to AVC/2006/0044 ).

On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, with the Republic of Albania in order to conclude a Protocol to 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, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

Negotiating rounds with Albania took place on 22 November 2006 and 1 February 2007. They continued by exchanges of letters on 2 April, 21 May, 9 July and 12 September 2007. The Protocol was initialled by the Commission and the Government of the Republic of Albania on 7 January 2008.

The aim of this proposal is to approve this protocol on behalf of the Community. To do this, the proposal uses a specific procedure.

The text of the initialled protocol is attached.

PURPOSE: to include Bulgaria and Romania in the stabilisation and association agreement concluded between the EU and Albania.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: 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, was signed in Luxemburg on 12 June 2006 (please refer to AVC/2006/0044 ).

On 23 October 2006, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations, on behalf of the Community and its Member States, with the Republic of Albania in order to conclude a Protocol to 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, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.

Negotiating rounds with Albania took place on 22 November 2006 and 1 February 2007. They continued by exchanges of letters on 2 April, 21 May, 9 July and 12 September 2007. The Protocol was initialled by the Commission and the Government of the Republic of Albania on 7 January 2008.

The aim of this proposal is to approve this protocol on behalf of the Community. To do this, the proposal uses a specific procedure.

The text of the initialled protocol is attached.