Regulation (EU) 2015/2423

What it is

to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process and suspending its application with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina. PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. CONTENT: the EU's policy towards the countries of the Western Balkans is defined within the Stabilisation and Association Process launched in May 1999. The Committee on Internationl Trade adopted the report by Goffredo Maria BETTINI (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process and suspending its application with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The parliamentary committee recommended that the European Parliament adopts its position at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, amending the Commission proposal as follows. Delegated acts: in order to assure a proper democratic oversight of the application of the basic Regulation by the Commission, Members proposed to apply the procedure with delegated acts for the suspension of preferences in case of non-compliance with the condition of effective administrative cooperation in order to prevent fraud, the condition of respect for human rights and the rule of law principles, as well as the condition of engaging in effective economic reforms and in regional cooperation. Furthermore, the report introduced to the basic Regulation a recital explaining the use of delegated acts. Adaptation of the Interim Agreement with the EU: the EU and BiH are urged to strive for an agreement regarding the adaptation of the Interim Agreement with the EU following the accession of Croatia, in order to avoid the suspension of preferences for BiH as of 1 January 2016. Progress towards accession: Members judged it necessary to take into account the constant progress towards European Union membership by the concerned countries and territories of the Western Balkans, as well the Union's unequivocal commitment to BiH's EU perspective , as set out in the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of 15 December 2014. A new recital stressed that the European Union expects the political leadership of the country to pursue reforms aimed at promoting functional institutions as well as ensuring equal rights for the three constituent peoples and all citizens of BiH. The European Parliament adopted some amendments on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process and suspending its application with regard to Bosnia and…

Frequently asked