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EC/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Agreement: application. Codification

2014/0199(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 628 votes to 49, with 19 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain procedures for applying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part (codified text).

Parliament adopted its position at first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure taking over the Commission proposal.

The Consultative Working Party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission concluded that the proposal in question contains a straightforward codification of the existing texts without any change in their substance.

The proposed codification of Council Regulation (EC) No 153/2002 seeks to adopt the application of certain measures of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part (SAA) which was signed in Luxembourg on 9 April 2001 and entered into force on 1 April 2004.

The proposal mainly seeks to:

  • lay down provisions for the calculation of the reduced rate of customs duties for certain products imported into the Union originating in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;
  • enable the Commission, assisted by the Committee established by Article 229 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, to adopt the Regulations opening up and
  • providing for the administration of the tariff quotas for ‘baby beef’ products;
  • provide that the Commission, assisted by the Committee,  adopt the Regulations opening and providing for the administration of  tariff quotas which might be granted as a result of negotiations on further tariff concessions pursuant to Article 29 of the SAA;
  • provide that duties should be totally suspended where preferential treatment results in ad valorem duties of 1% or less, or in specific duties of EUR 1 or less;
  • stipulates that the implementation of the safeguard clauses should be adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (comitology);
  • enable the Commission to adopt immediately applicable implementing acts where, in duly justified cases relating to exceptional and critical circumstances, imperative grounds of urgency so require.