EC/Albania Stabilisation and Association Agreement

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.