EC/Serbia agreement: Stabilisation and Association Agreement

PURPOSE: to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia.

PROPOSED ACT: Council and Commission Decision.

BACKGROUND: the SAA between European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Serbia of the other part was been signed on behalf of the European Community in 2007, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 310 in conjunction with Article 300(2), first subparagraph, last sentence and Article 300(3), second subparagraph of the Treaty establishing the European Community and the second paragraph of Article 101 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, the SAA with Serbia is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

Institutional measures are laid down as regards the position to be taken by the Community within the Stabilisation and Association Council and within the Stabilisation and Association Committee.

The commercial provisions contained in this Agreement are of an exceptional nature, connected with the policy implemented within the framework of the stabilisation and association process and will not constitute, for the European Union, any precedent in the commercial policy of the Community with regard to third countries other than those of the Western Balkans.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal has no implications for the EU budget.