PURPOSE: i) to formally give the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia “Accession Partnership” status as opposed to “European Partnership” status and ii) to take account of Montenegro’s independence.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 229/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process.
CONTENT: in December 2005, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was granted the status of “candidate country” following a European Council Decision. As a result, the “partnership” name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should be changed from ‘European Partnership’ into ‘Accession Partnership’, in accordance with provisions set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004. In this way the status of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be aligned with the two other candidate countries namely, Croatia and Turkey (CNS/2003/0267).
The purpose of this Regulation, therefore, is to grant the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the status of “Accession Partnership”. At the same time the Regulation includes an amendment to take into account of the independence of Montenegro.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18 March 2008.