According to the ministry’s statement, the EU Council adopted Regulation No 1946/2005 (Official Journal of the European Union, No L312) stating that the trade preferences for Serbia-Montenegro should apply for a further period, from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010.
The basic Regulation was adopted in 2000 and is valid until the end of 2005. Therefore, the EU has decided to prolong the period of its validity, though with certain amendments that have been brought in line with the changes in the Constitutional Charter and the “two-track” principle. As of January 2006, the preferential treatment will apply to Serbia and Montenegro as customs territories.
Since Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) have not yet been concluded with all the Western Balkan countries, the EU Council decided that it is appropriate to prolong the period of validity of Regulation No 2007/2000, and that it remain in force until Serbia-Montenegro signs the SAA with the EU, the statement concludes.