EC/Slovenia Europe agreement

OBJECTIVE: to conclude an association agreement between the Community and its Member States and Slovenia. CONTENT: the association agreement (or Europe agreement) between the EC, the ECSC, EURATOM and their Member States and Slovenia is a preferential agreement of unlimited duration covering sectors of Community and national competence. This agreement replaces the 1993 cooperation agreement concluded between the Communities and Slovenia which entered into force in September 1993. This agreement seeks to establish close and lasting relations between the parties and, like other Europe agreements, is based on respect for democratic principles and human rights, as well as the principles of market economy. The agreement provides a framework for Slovenia's future integration into the European Union. As far as trade and accompanying measures are concerned, it provides for: - the establishment of a free-trade area following a transitional period of six years divided into two successive stages (the first of four years and the second of two years); - measures similar to those in other Europe agreements with regard to: . the right of establishment; . supply of services; . capital movements; . economic cooperation; . cultural cooperation; . financial cooperation; . cooperation for the prevention of illegal activities (drugs, money laundering etc); - specific measures with regard to transport, maintaining the existing agreement between the EC and this country with respect to land transport. For other modes of transport, there are provisions similar to those in other agreements (cooperation on road transport, combined rail/road transport, railway management etc). The introduction of a political dialogue between the Union and Slovenia is of special importance, given that it falls within the multilateral framework set in place with the associated countries of central Europe and within the association council. Lastly, the agreement contains specific provisions for the free movement of workers (joint declaration) and a new title concerning the Osimo agreements and economic cooperation between Italy and Slovenia.�