22004A0320(03)

Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part - Protocol 1 on textile and clothing products - Protocol 2 on steel products - Protocol 3 on trade between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Community in processed agricultural products - Protocol 4 concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation - Protocol 5 on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters - Final Act

Official Journal L 084 , 20/03/2004 P. 0013 - 0197

Stabilisation and Association Agreement

between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the other part

THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,

THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,

IRELAND,

THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,

THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,

THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,

THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,

THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,

THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,

THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,

Contracting Parties to the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and the Treaty on European Union

hereinafter referred to as "Member States", and

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY,

hereinafter referred to as the "Community",

of the one part, and

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA,

hereinafter referred to as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia",

of the other part,

CONSIDERING the strong links between the Parties and the values that they share, their desire to strengthen those links and establish a close and lasting relationship based on reciprocity and mutual interest, which should allow the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to further strengthen and extend the relations established previously, in particular through the Cooperation Agreement signed on 29 April 1997 by way of Exchange of Letters, which entered into force on 1 January 1998,

CONSIDERING that the relationship between the Parties in the field of inland transport should continue to be governed by the Agreement between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the field of transport, signed on 29 June 1997, which entered into force on 28 November 1997,

CONSIDERING the importance of this Agreement, in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association process with the countries of south-eastern Europe, to be further developed by an EU Common strategy for this region, in the establishment and consolidation of a stable European order based on cooperation, of which the European Union is a mainstay, as well as in the framework of the Stability Pact,

CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to contribute by all means to the political, economic and institutional stabilisation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as well as in the region, through the development of civic society and democratisation, institution building and public administration reform, enhanced trade and economic cooperation, the strengthening of national and regional security, as well as increased cooperation in justice and home affairs,

CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to increasing political and economic freedoms as the very basis of this Agreement, as well as their commitment to respect human rights and the rule of law, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, and democratic principles through free and fair elections and a multiparty system,