THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 181a(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Whereas:
(1)
Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 provides that partnerships will be established for all the Western Balkan countries.
(2)
The European Council decided at its meeting in Brussels in December 2005 that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is to be a candidate country for membership of the European Union.
(3)
It is therefore appropriate to provide that instead of a European Partnership, the European Union should implement in its relations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia an Accession Partnership, and to amend Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 accordingly.
(4)
The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro has ceased to exist. Therefore, it is appropriate to amend the Regulation to take into account the fact that Serbia as well as Montenegro are now two independent States.
(5)
The Regulation covers Accession Partnerships as well as European Partnerships. Therefore, the full text needs to take this into account,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: