EC/Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement: procedures for applying the Agreement and the Interim Agreement

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Iuliu WINKLER (EPP, RO) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning certain procedures for applying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part, and for applying the Interim Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part.

The parliamentary committee recommends that the European Parliament’s position is adopted at first reading according to the ordinary legislative procedure. It amends the Commission’s proposal as follows:

Implementing acts: Members ask that the Commission should be able to adopt as rapidly as possible immediately applicable implementing acts on duly justified imperative grounds of urgency (e.g. in the event of exceptional and critical circumstances) by means of the advisory procedure (and not the examination procedure, as provided for in the proposal), given the effects of these measures and their sequential logic in relation to the adoption of definitive measures. Where a delay in the imposition of measures would cause damage which would be difficult to repair it is necessary to allow the Commission to adopt immediately applicable provisional measures.

Written procedure: in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers, written procedure may be used I certain simple cases. This Regulation lays down that, except if otherwise provided, the written procedure may not be applied if a Member State objects. In line with the Trade Omnibus I and II reports, Members propose that the written procedure is to be terminated without result only if a qualified majority of Member States calls for this.

Review: lastly, Members call for provisions to be laid down regulating the management and review of these tariff quotas in order to allow for their thorough assessment.