Europese Commissie adviseert start onderhandelingen over Stabilisatie- en Associatieakkoord met Bosnië-Herzegovina (en)

The European Commission has recommended to the Council opening of negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), and submitted the draft Negotiating Directives for adoption by the Council. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is the first major step in the European integration process for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The process of SAA negotiations has now been initiated.

This recommendation by the Commission is recognition of the progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made in the implementation of the Feasibility Study reforms. The Feasibility Study, published in November 2003, concluded that progress needed to be made in 16 areas, before Bosnia and Herzegovina would be ready to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

The Commission underlines that Bosnia and Herzegovina must, in particular, continue to improve co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, adopt the remaining Law on Public Broadcasting Service and ensure the implementation of the police reform and of the public broadcasting legislation. A lack of progress in these areas may delay the opening of SAA negotiations, or lead to their suspension.

The aim of the negotiations is to conclude the first comprehensive agreement between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing for wide-ranging co-operation to foster the integration of the country into EU programmes and structures.

The proposed negotiating directives, which require Council approval, include a formalised framework for political dialogue with Bosnia and Herzegovina, both at bilateral and regional level.

The agreement's main goal is to promote economic and trade relations, with the perspective of establishing WTO-compatible free trade after a transitional period. The agreement will also bring the country closer to the European standards in regulating the movement of workers, freedom of establishment, supply of services and movement of capital. It will include a commitment by Bosnia and Herzegovina to progressive harmonisation of its legislation with that of the Community (notably in key areas of the internal market).

Background:

The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) is the EU's policy for the countries of the Western Balkans region. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is the final stage of that policy, creating a contractual relationship between a country and the European Union. The SAP is accompanied by a generous financial assistance programme, called Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS).

The Feasibility Study is an evaluation report that establishes whether a country is able to negotiate an SAA.

The EU has already signed Stabilisation and Association Agreements with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Croatia, and is currently negotiating an SAA with Albania and Serbia and Montenegro.
For further information on EU relations:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/see/fry/index.htm