|
Stabilisation
and
Association
Agreement
goes
into
effect
on
April
1
Macedonian
Information
Agency
(Apr
01,
2004,
2:53:13
PM
(GMT+01:00)) (MIA) -
The
Stabilisation
and
Association
Agreement
(SAA)
between
the
European
Union
and
the
Republic
of
Macedonia
goes
into
effect
on
April
1,
which
is
another
step
forward
of
Macedonia
towards
European
integration,
the
European
Commission
stated.
This
Agreement
is
the
first
Stabilisation
and
Association
Agreement
that
goes
into
effect.
For
that
purpose,
a
Ministers'
Council
will
be
established,
along
with
a
Commission
and
sub-Commissions,
which
will
encompass
all
issues
of
the
Agreement,
and
which
will
convene
on
an
annual
level.
The
Agreement
was
signed
on
April
9,
2001.
It
regulates
the
ambitious
goals,
and
is
a
framework
for
leading
of
an
intensive
dialogue
at
a
political
and
technical
level.
The
agreement
obliges
the
parties
to
continue
to
work
on
the
political,
economic
and
institutional
stabilisation
of
the
country,
strengthening
of
institutions
and
reform
of
the
public
administration,
strengthening
of
the
commercial
and
economic
co-operation,
co-ordination
of
the
Macedonian
legislation
with
the
European
one,
as
well
as
in
the
field
of
justice
and
internal
affairs.
The
full
realisation
of
the
agreement
will
also
create
a
new
climate
for
development
of
trade
and
investments,
which
are
key
factors
for
the
economic
restructuring
and
modernisation
of
the
country.
In
combination
with
the
new
European
Partnership,
which
is
based
on
the
Commission's
proposal
presented
on
March
30,
as
well
as
the
other
instruments
of
co-operation
and
assistance
within
the
stabilisation
and
association
process,
SAA
will
assist
Macedonia
in
according
its
standards
and
laws
with
the
European
Union.
In
the
Report
on
the
Stabilisation
and
Association
Process,
the
European
Commission
notes
progress
in
the
realisation
of
the
obligations
that
come
from
the
SAA,
which
going
into
effect
will
require
additional
activities,
which
have
to
be
supported
with
larger
resources
by
the
administration.
The
European
Commission
emphasised
that
all
Western
Balkans'
countries
have
the
opportunity
for
EU
membership,
if
they
fulfil
several
conditions
and
implement
reforms.
Their
preparations
have
been
supported
through
the
stabilisation
and
association
process,
EU
policy
for
co-operation
with
each
of
the
Western
Balkans'
countries,
as
well
as
regional
co-operation.
The
SAAs
are
the
main
component
in
this
process.
Republic
of
Macedonia
is
the
first
country,
which
Agreement
goes
into
effect.
The
SAA
negotiations
have
finished
with
Croatia,
and
are
ongoing
with
Albania.
©
2000
MIA
-
Macedonian
Information
Agency.
All
Rights
Reserved.
This
material
may
not
be
published,
broadcast,
rewritten
or
redistributed
in
any
form
except
with
the
prior
express
permission
of
Macedonian
Information
Agency.
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