19.3.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 80/1 COUNCIL DECISION of 18 February 2008 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Albania and repealing Decision 2006/54/EC (2008/210/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 of 22 March 2004 on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process (1), as amended, and in particular Article 2 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1) The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 endorsed the introduction of the European Partnerships as a means to materialise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. (2) Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 provides that the Council is to decide on the principles, priorities and conditions to be contained in the partnerships, as well as any subsequent adjustments. It states also that the follow-up to the European Partnerships will be ensured through the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably by the annual progress reports. (3) On 30 January 2006 the Council adopted the second European Partnership with Albania (2). (4) The Commission's Paper on enlargement strategy and main challenges 2006-2007 indicated that the partnerships would be updated at the end of 2007. (5) On 17 July 2006 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 (3) establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), which renews the framework for financial assistance to pre-accession countries. (6) It is therefore appropriate to adopt a revised European Partnership which updates the current partnership in order to identify renewed priorities for further work, on the basis of the findings of the 2007 Progress Report on Albania's preparations for further integration with the European Union. (7) In order to prepare for further integration with the European Union, the competent authorities in Albania should develop a plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities of this European Partnership. (8) Decision 2006/54/EC should therefore be repealed, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The principles, priorities and conditions in the European Partnership with Albania are set out in the Annex. Article 2 The implementation of the European Partnership shall be examined through the mechanisms established under the stabilisation and association process, notably the annual progress reports presented by the Commission. Article 3 Decision 2006/54/EC shall be repealed. Article 4 This Decision shall take effect on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 18 February 2008. For the Council The President D. RUPEL (1) OJ L 86, 24.3.2004, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 269/2006 (OJ L 47, 17.2.2006, p. 7). (2) Council Decision 2006/54/EC of 30 January 2006 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Albania and repealing Decision 2004/519/EC (OJ L 35, 7.2.2006, p. 1). (3) OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 82. ANNEX ALBANIA 2007 EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP 1. INTRODUCTION The European Council endorsed the introduction of the European Partnerships as a means to realise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. The proposed revised partnership updates the second one, on the basis of the findings of the 2007 Commission Progress Report on Albania. It identifies new and remaining priorities for action. The new priorities are adapted to the country's specific needs and stage of preparation and will be updated as necessary. Albania is expected to develop a plan including a timetable and specific measures intended to address the European Partnership priorities. The partnership also provides guidance for financial assistance to the country. 2. PRINCIPLES The Stabilisation and Association Process remains the framework for the European course of the Western Balkan countries, all the way to their future accession. The priorities identified for Albania relate to its capacity to meet the criteria defined by the Copenhagen European Council of 1993 and the conditions set by the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably the conditions defined by the Council in its conclusions of 29 April 1997 and 21 and 22 June 1999, the final declaration of the Zagreb Summit of 24 November 2000 and the Thessaloniki Agenda. 3. PRIORITIES The priorities listed in this European Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that Albania can complete them or take them substantially forward over the next few years. A distinction is made between short-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within one to two years, and medium-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within three to four years. The priorities concern both legislation and its implementation. In view of the need to set priorities, clearly there are other tasks for Albania to complete which may become priorities in any future partnership, also taking into account future progress made by Albania. Among the short-term priorities, the key ones have been identified and grouped together at the beginning of the list. The order of these key priorities does not imply a ranking of their importance. 3.1. SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES Key priorities — Strengthen administrative capacity in preparation for implementing Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and Interim Agreement (IA) commitments. — Promote constructive dialogue between political parties and with stakeholders on the implementation of reforms. — Increase the independence, accountability and transparency of the justice system, including by fostering the constitutional protection of judges, appointing judges and prosecutors on the basis of competitive examinations, establishing merit-based performance evaluation for prosecutors and setting objective rules for allocation of cases to judges. — Implement the 2007-2013 anti-corruption strategy and the recommendations made in the 2005 evaluation report by the Council of Europe Group of States Against Corruption and investigate and prosecute cases of corruption in the police and the judiciary with due vigour. — Implement the recommendations made by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on elections, in particular by improving voters' lists and amending the electoral code in line with the Venice Commission recommendations, in good time for the next parliamentary elections. — Further strengthen public-sector governance by improving the quality and impartiality of public administration staff and strengthening the Department of Public Administration. — Complete the unbundling of the State electricity company KESH, and privatise its distribution arm. Stabilise KESH's financial position by raising collection rates and bringing prices to cost-recovery levels and increase electricity generation and interconnection capacity. — Achieve further tangible results in the fight against organised crime, in particular by making full use of intelligence-led policing and ensuring effective judicial follow-up. Political criteria Democracy and the rule of law Government — Adopt the national strategy for development and integration in time to inform the 2008/2009 budget process, ensuring it reflects European integration commitments and is adequately costed, and begin to implement it. — Make full and effective use of the integrated planning system to strengthen links between policy objectives and budget planning and execution. — Improve government-wide coordination of EU integration work by means of wider and more consistent consultation of ministries, including stakeholders and EU experts on related legislation. — Ensure the availability of appropriate equipment and trained staff for the Ministry of European Integration and for line ministries' EU integration offices. — Ensure that improvement of the civil registry and address system is properly coordinated with the introduction of electronic identity cards and biometric passports. Public administration — Ensure enforcement of the Civil Service Law and related rules in the public administration. — Ensure that recruitment, appointments, promotion, transfers and dismissals are conducted according to the established rules in order to build an accountable, efficient civil service, based on professional career development criteria. Judicial system — Finalise, adopt and implement the draft law on judicial reform and improve the infrastructure for the judicial sector. — Improve coordination between prosecutors and police, in particular by means of the case management system. — Ensure that the appropriate legislation and resources are in place for adequate witness protection. Anti-corruption policy — Harmonise the civil, commercial and administrative Codes with the Council of Europe Civil Law Convention on Corruption. — Strengthen the institutional capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption. — Implement legislation on preventing bribery with due regard for inter-institutional coordination. — Strengthen mechanisms to enforce the Law on declaration of assets. — Clarify rules related to the prevention of conflicts of interest in the exercise of public functions. — Clarify rules related to the public access to information in line with international standards. — Reduce the list of officials covered by immunity and grant immunity only where strictly appropriate. Human rights and protection of minorities Observance of international human rights law — Ensure that all law enforcement bodies are aware of their human rights obligations and implement them rigorously in accordance with the code of ethics for the prisons system and with international conventions ratified by Albania, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights. — Guarantee that human dignity and personal safety are respected in detention centres, prisons and mental institutions, in accordance with international conventions. Civil and political rights — Address cases of ill-treatment by law enforcement bodies by means of appropriate prosecution of perpetrators. — Strengthen access to justice. — Ensure that the relevant international conventions are observed in establishing and running new penitentiary facilities. — Bring Albania's legislation on defamation into line with European standards and implement it. — Expedite effective legislation to ensure transparency on media ownership. — Fully implement current legislation on print media and journalists' independence, coordinate new legislation on freedom of expression and develop comprehensive electronic media legislation in line with European standards. Social and economic rights — Make further efforts to prevent domestic violence. — Take further measures to address child labour, including adopting adequate legislation and providing resources to guarantee children's rights. — Develop community-based services and aid to dependent persons, including in the field of mental health. — Ensure full protection against discrimination on all grounds, including through implementing legislation and strengthening of structures to address gender equality. — Further accelerate both the first registration of properties and the processing of restitution claims and ensure that mechanisms for compensation are sustainable and that these processes are properly coordinated with the property legalisation initiative. Minority rights, cultural rights and protection of minorities — Implement the commitments under the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities throughout Albania, in particular as regards use of minority languages with the authorities, display of traditional local names and making adequate provisions for minority language education. — Implement the national strategy for the Roma and ensure appropriate funding, as part of the government's strategy for combating poverty and social exclusion. — Foster registration, including birth registration, of members of the Roma minority. — Provide sound data on minorities in Albania. Regional issues and international obligations — Comply with the stabilisation and association process commitments in terms of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, including by promoting the transition from the Stability Pact to a more regionally owned cooperation framework and effective implementation of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). — Conclude and implement agreements with neighbouring countries and ensure effective implementation, notably on cross border cooperation, the fight against organised crime, trafficking and smuggling, judicial cooperation, border management, readmission, the environment, transport and energy. Economic criteria — Continue implementing a stability-oriented fiscal policy which aims at fiscal consolidation and is conducive to low inflation and external sustainability. — Continue with fiscal reform with the aim of strengthening revenue administration and improving debt management capacity. — Pursue a monetary policy conducive to the objective of achieving and maintaining price stability to reduce and anchor inflation expectations. — Complete the creation of a credit information bureau to help safeguard the rapidly growing credit portfolio of the banking system. — Reduce the grey economy by effective and non-discriminatory enforcement of tax legislation and intensifying the fight against fiscal fraud. European standards Internal market Free movement of goods — Further increase awareness of economic operators in relation to the concepts of standards and certification and their importance in international trade. — Adopt and start to implement the national market surveillance strategy for industrial products and food. — Adopt new legislation on consumer protection compatible with the acquis. Strengthen the consumer protection department. Movement of persons, services and right of establishment — Ensure a clear distinction between the temporary and permanent provision of services and compatibility with Stabilisation and Association Agreement requirements. — Strengthen the regulatory framework for banking and non-banking financial supervision and the capacity of the Financial Supervision Authority. Free movement of capital — Authorise acquisition of real estate by EU nationals within the limits provided for in the Schedule of Specific Commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Customs and taxation — Further align customs legislation and procedures with EU practices; in particular, ensure approximation of rules and procedures for transit, customs warehouses, customs valuation, physical controls and risk analysis to EU standards. Ensure that national tariff is timely updated on the basis of the most recent Combined Nomenclature. — Fully implement the computerised system for customs declaration and customs data processing in all customs offices. — Further approximate tax legislation with the EU acquis, notably in the field of excise duties, and commit to the principles of the Code of Conduct for business taxation, ensuring that new tax measures also comply with these principles. — Reinforce the capacity of the tax administration, in particular in the fields of tax controls and audit, in order to increase compliance and reduce tax evasion. — Complete the process of computerising tax offices. Competition — Improve and approximate to the acquis the existing anti-trust legislation to reinforce competition control. — Strengthen the administrative capacity of the competition authority and provide adequate staff and training. — Adopt implementing legislation on State aid. — Continue updating the inventory of State aid schemes. Public procurement — Enforce public procurement legislation and take steps to bring it fully up to EU standards, especially as regards utilities sector and remedies. — Further strengthen the administrative capacity of the Public Procurement Agency, public procurement entities in line ministries and local government and courts dealing with public procurement. — Ensure investigation and criminal prosecution of procurement-related offences. Intellectual property law — Prepare a national strategy and an action plan for further legislative developments and strengthening of intellectual property rights (IPR). — Strengthen the administrative and judicial capacity for protection of IPR. — Intensify enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting. — Further increase awareness of IPR issues amongst the business community and law enforcement bodies, including the judiciary. — Improve industrial property legislation. Employment and social policies — Improve social protection systems and combat social exclusion. — Adopt measures to increase school enrolment rates at secondary level and among children in rural areas, in particular girls, and in vocational schools. — Develop adequate administrative structures and capacity in the field of consumer and health protection. Education and research — Continue efforts to improve the governance of the education system, teacher training and education infrastructure. — Implement the new law on higher education. Step up efforts to promote a better involvement in the Tempus programme. WTO issues — Strengthen the administrative capacity of the WTO Relations and Economic Cooperation Department in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Sectoral policies Industry and SMEs — Accelerate progress on implementing the European Charter for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. — Further implement the action plans to remove administrative barriers to business and investment and to address the informal economy and ensure proper, non-discretionary, non-discriminatory implementation of business-related legislation, rules and procedures. Reduce obsolete and inefficient regulations through regulatory guillotine procedures. — Increase policy research in innovation and competitiveness issues for small companies and implement support programmes. Agriculture and fisheries — Adopt a new law on food in line with EU standards, strengthen the food safety system and related control systems. — Reinforce laboratory capacity in the food safety, and veterinary and phytosanitary domain. — Improve food safety, phytosanitary and veterinary legislation, and start its implementation. — Improve the system of identification of bovines and registration of their movements, and start the implementation of a system of identification and registration of movements for pigs, sheep and goats. — Improve control of animal diseases, including sampling and reporting. Environment — Strengthen administrative capacity and coordination at national and local level. — Fully implement legislation on environmental impact assessment. — Adopt a strategy further to approximate environmental legislation with the acquis and implement existing legislation properly, especially as regards enforcement. — Continue to address the environmental hot spots at the Sharra solid waste landfill and the Patos-Marinez oil extraction area. — Further develop and implement the national water and sanitation strategy and the rural strategy for water supply and sewerage and develop and start implementing a strategy for progressive approximation to the acquis in the area of water supply and sanitation. — Implement international conventions to which Albania is party in the field of nature protection. Transport policy — Implement the national transport plan, including the planning and budgeting of transport asset maintenance, and adopt and implement the national transport strategy, including the strategy for the railway sector. — Continue implementation of the memorandum of understanding on the development of the South East Europe (SEE) core regional transport network and strengthen cooperation with the South East Europe Transport Observatory. — Take measures to improve road safety conditions, including approximation to the EU acquis on weights and dimensions, roadworthiness tests, technical roadside inspections, driving licences, tachographs and vehicle registration documents. — Take measures to prevent illegal construction along new roads, in particular dangerous privately constructed access roads. — Prepare railway network statement for open access to infrastructure use and adopt and implement a railway business plan. — Implement Albania's commitments under the first transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area Agreement, including the implementation of the relevant aviation legislation. — Implement the action plan to address the deficiencies identified within the civil aviation authority as regards safety oversight of the country's airlines. — Improve maritime safety conditions, particularly the detention rate of Albanian ships under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding. Energy — Approve and implement the revised national energy strategy, having continuing regard to the importance of environmental impact assessments (EIA). — Meet the requirements of the Energy Community Treaty in the area of gas and electricity. Information society and media — Ensure that electronic communications legislation is in line with the acquis and is enforced and take measures to achieve a competitive market for electronic communications networks and services. — Strengthen the expertise and capacity of the Telecommunications Regulatory Entity. — Align Albanian legislation with the European Convention on Transfrontier Television and the Television without Frontiers Directive. — Strengthen the administrative capacity of the National Council on Radio and Television and adopt the strategy for development of the radio and television sector and an updated national analogue and digital frequency plan for radio and television. Financial control — Review the public internal and financial control policy paper and action plan and clearly define the internal audit function, separate from other control and inspection functions. Develop an appropriate inspection service to combat fraud. — Ensure that the Internal Audit Law and the draft organic Budget Law are in line with internationally recognised standards. — Strengthen the independence of the Supreme Audit Institute. Statistics — Strengthen the capacity of the Statistical Office. Justice, freedom and security Visa, border control, asylum and migration — Issue travel documents in accordance with international standards, ensure the required administrative capacity to do so, and establish a centralised IT network for administration of visas. — Adopt amendments to the Law on foreigners to bring visa legislation closer to EU standards. — Implement the integrated border management strategy and action plan, paying particular attention to cooperation at the border between customs and the border police. — Ensure that border management at all border crossing points, in particular at the ports of Durres and Vlora complies with EU standards. — Implement the EC/Albania readmission agreement and negotiate readmission agreements with the countries of origin of transiting migrants. — Focus sufficient administrative and financial capacity on implementing legislation on asylum and migration and the related national strategies and action plans. Money laundering — Take the necessary measures to enforce anti-money laundering legislation better in terms of prevention, convictions, confiscations, seizures and freezing assets. — Enhance the capacity of the financial intelligence unit, the prosecutor's offices and the police Economic Crimes Unit by ensuring appropriate financial and IT resources and improving working-level cooperation. — Bring the Law on the prevention of money laundering into line with the acquis and with the Financial Action Task Force's and Council of Europe's Moneyval recommendations. — Strengthen the capacity of the agency for the administration of seized and confiscated assets. — Further improve cooperation with the authorities of other countries. — Ensure proper enforcement of reporting obligations and examine transaction reporting thresholds. — Take more effective measures to reduce use of cash in the economy. Drugs — Implement the national anti-drug strategy, the related action plan and the mini-Dublin Group recommendations. — Improve the training, equipment and continuity of management of police officers involved in the fight against drugs and take further steps to ensure better coordination, both domestically and with partners in other countries, in the fight against drugs. — Identify and prosecute those responsible for corruption related to the drugs trade at all levels in the public administration. — Ensure greater transparency in seizure figures and take measures to dispose properly of drugs seized in old cases. — Implement a balanced overall strategy to address drug demand, including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. Police — Ensure full implementation of the provisions on ranks in the new State Police Law. — Improve the management capacity of the Albanian State police. — Strengthen the police internal affairs unit and ensure proper prosecution of police officers for criminal offences. — Establish and put into operation a consolidated manual of procedures for all criminal police officers. — Implement the strategy on community policing. Fighting organised crime and terrorism — Take further measures to enhance cooperation between the various State bodies involved in the fight against organised crime and terrorism and, in particular, between the judicial authorities and the police. — Take further measures to establish coherent and coordinated intelligence gathering and processing systems. — Enhance use of special investigative means, interception of telecommunications and use of intelligence information. — Urgently put in place practical measures to guarantee witness protection. — Strengthen domestic and international cooperation on preventing trafficking in human beings and the staffing of the police anti-trafficking unit. — Take measures to provide counter-terrorist analysts and investigators with better equipment and training. Protection of personal data — Align the current law on personal data protection with the acquis, and the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of personal data. — Establish an independent data protection supervisory authority with sufficient powers over the public and private sectors and sufficient financial and human resources. 3.2. MEDIUM-TERM PRIORITIES Political criteria Democracy and the rule of law Governance — Ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the national strategy for development and integration. Public administration — Ensure that the sectors of the administration responsible for implementation of the SAA provisions and those involved in implementation of the EC financial assistance are adequately trained and equipped to carry out their duties. — Introduce results-oriented management and training for civil servants. — Design and implement a civil service salary structure which allows both proper budgetary planning and a motivating career structure. — Ensure the sustainability of reforms in the public administration. Judicial system — Ensure prosecution of serious crimes, especially organised crime, with particular attention to cross-border cooperation mechanisms. — Enforce legislation on witness protection. — Ensure continued and appropriate training of judges and prosecutors, including on human rights, ethics and commercial and corporate matters and SAA-related issues. — Ensure the financial sustainability of the magistrates' school. — Review the role and qualifications of judicial administrators and progressively incorporate them into the civil service, ensuring pay parity with ministry staff. Anti-corruption policy — Implement the European Conventions on Corruption in Criminal and Civil Matters ratified by Albania and the relevant UN conventions. — Achieve significant results in the fight against corruption, at all levels and in all fields, by enforcing adequate legislation. Human rights and protection of minorities Observance of international human rights law — Ensure that detainees and prisoners on remand are treated in accordance with international standards. Civil and political rights — Improve the juvenile justice system. — Ensure compliance with the Council of Europe Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. — Adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, and ensure appropriate institutional support for victims including by existing institutions in charge of human rights. — Enforce legislation on restitution/compensation of properties confiscated during the communist period. — Complete the process of land registration. — Ensure that transfers of property are carried out in accordance with the law and ensure the proper functioning of all bodies involved in the process (notaries, property register, etc.). — Enforce legislation on printed and electronic media, taking into account European standards. — Ensure that TV frequency is allocated in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, in accordance with the national plan, and that requirements are fully respected by broadcasters, Improve the neutrality of the public service broadcaster. — Encourage the active participation of NGOs and other civil society organisations in the government decision-making process and the continued improvement of the quality of journalism. Regional issues and international obligations — Further promote regional dialogue, stability, good neighbourliness and cooperation. — Bring the agreement concluded with the USA regarding the conditions of surrender of people to the International Criminal Court into line with the EU guiding principles adopted by the European Council in September 2002. Economic criteria — Reduce the tax wedge on wages and improve incentive structures and flexibility in the labour market to increase the participation and employment rates, while securing tax resources by broadening the tax base and improving compliance, at a measured and prudent pace to ensure sustainable public finances. — Improve the education system with the aim of increasing the supply of sought-after skills, fostering employment and long-term economic growth. — Upgrade the country's infrastructure, in particular in energy and transport, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the economy at large. — Speed up the privatisation of publicly owned enterprises to strengthen corporate governance and reduce quasi-fiscal losses. — Improve the business environment to increase greenfield foreign direct investment. — Establish effective procedures for detecting, dealing with and following up cases of (suspected) fraud and other irregularities affecting national and international funds. European standards Internal market Free movement of goods — Ensure administrative capacity to implement SAA and IA requirements in this area. — Make further progress on adopting European standards and speed up efforts to become a full member of the European standardisation organisations. — Make progress on transposing new and global approach and old approach directives. — Fully establish a market surveillance system. — Ensure improved functioning of the bodies responsible for standardisation, accreditation and certification and of those responsible for metrology and calibration, taking into account EC best practices. — Ensure Albania's membership of the European Cooperation for Accreditation organisation. Movement of persons, services and right of establishment — Approve legislation on employment of foreigners and take measures to coordinate social security services. — Ensure that the legislation on the right of establishment is implemented fairly and impartially. Free movement of capital — Make progress towards fulfilling Albania's SAA commitments on full liberalisation of the movement of capital, including ensuring the same treatment to EU and Albanian nationals regarding portfolio investments and financial loans and credits with maturity of shorter than one year. Customs and taxation — Ensure continued approximation of Albanian customs and taxation legislation to the EU acquis and further increase administrative capacity to implement customs and tax legislation and to fight corruption, cross-border crime and fiscal evasion. — Improve transparency and the exchange of information with EU Member States in order to facilitate enforcement of measures to prevent avoidance or evasion of taxes. Competition — Further improve the enforcement record in the areas of anti-trust and State aid control. — Complete alignment of State aid schemes with EU competition rules, as Stated in the interim agreement. Public procurement — Ensure the compatibility of Albania's legal framework with the EU acquis. — Achieve fully operational public procurement structures, ensuring operation of public procurement procedures in strict compliance with the law and with SAA requirements. Intellectual property law — Fully implement international conventions ratified in the field of intellectual, commercial and industrial property rights. — Implement intellectual property rights legislation properly and achieve improved results in the fight against piracy and counterfeiting. — Guarantee sufficient administrative capacity to comply with SAA requirements in this area. Employment and social policies — Facilitate women's inclusion in the labour market and their participation in the decision-making process. — Integrate employment and vocational training strategies into social, educational, tax, enterprise and regional policies. Address implementation of international commitments in health in particular the international health regulations. — Progress with alignment of quality standards for transfusion of blood and blood components with EU legislation. — Start implementing the National Health System Strategy 2007 to 2013. Education and Research — Continue efforts to improve the quality of education and to create a modern vocational education and training system, promote regional cooperation in the field of higher education. Sectoral policies Industry and SMEs — Enforce improved commercial legislation. — Ensure that the strategy to combat the informal economy keeps pace with developments in the sector. — Further develop specialised business support structures (e.g. incubators and clusters) and examine the feasibility of a business/technology park. — Start designing and applying an integrated research policy and further develop measures to boost innovation and competitiveness in small companies. — Introduce disclosure and financial reporting standards in line with EU standards and ensure effective enforcement. — Continue implementing the European Charter for Small Enterprises. Agriculture and fisheries — Develop strategies for land use, the land market, rural development, diversification of farm activities and enhancing agricultural competitiveness. — Achieve substantial improvements in terms of food safety and phytosanitary and veterinary conditions, in compliance with EC requirements. — Assess the compliance of agri-food establishments with EU requirements, prepare a programme for their upgrading and start its implementation. — Start action with a view to ensuring efficient control of domestic plant production, in particular for products with specific EU requirements, and set up analytical capacity in the phytosanitary sector. — Take measures to ensure that Albanian fisheries policy moves closer to EU standards, in particular in the areas of resource management, inspection and control and in market and structural policies. Environment — Establish a full inventory of hot spots and continue efforts to address hot spots already identified. — Reduce pollution produced by the Balsh refinery, including discharges into the River Gjanica, and take measures to tackle water pollution in general. — Strengthen environmental monitoring and ensure sufficiently dissuasive sanctions against polluters. — Continue to implement regional and international environmental commitments. Transport policy — Continue implementation of the Albanian transport master plan. — Complete the necessary institutional reforms to improve transport asset management, prioritisation of investments, policy-making and involvement of the private sector. — Make substantial progress on rehabilitation of the ports of Durres and Vlora and consolidate port operations there. — Achieve improved results in terms of road safety (including the implementation of the digital tachograph) and take additional steps towards further approximation to the acquis on market access (occupation) and social rules. — Continue implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the development of the south-east Europe (SEE) core regional transport network, and cooperation with the SEE transport observatory. — Create conditions for competition in the rail transport sector, including the establishment of regulatory and safety bodies. — Implement commitments taken on under the second transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area Agreement. — Achieve significant results in improving maritime safety conditions, including port State control facilities and performance of the register of shipping pursuant to the Paris memorandum of understanding. Energy — Continue to ensure proper implementation of action plans in relation to the electricity and gas sector and make further progress with implementation of the Albanian energy strategy. — Ensure timely implementation of the various projects aimed at improving the infrastructure for electricity production, transmission and distribution. — Continue to implement regional and international commitments in the energy field with a view to establishing a competitive regional energy market. — Improve implementation of the Energy Efficiency Law. Information society and media — Further transpose and implement the EU framework for electronic communications. — Continue the process of alignment with the European Convention on Transfrontier Television and the Television without Frontiers directive. Financial control — Develop and implement the principles of decentralised managerial accountability and functionally independent internal audit, in accordance with international standards and EU best practice. — Develop procedures and administrative capacity to ensure effective protection of the EU's financial interests. — Ensure that the Law on external audit complies with the guidelines of the Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions. — Further strengthen capacity for external audit, financial control management and internal audit. Statistics — Improve agricultural statistics and macroeconomic statistics, develop social statistics, including education and health statistics, and make progress towards implementing all European classifications, including the classification of statistical regions. Justice, freedom and security Visa, border control, asylum and migration — Ensure that all Albanian travel documents fully comply with international standards. — Implement all international commitments undertaken by Albania in the area of border management. — Enforce asylum-related legislation and establish a fully-fledged asylum system, in compliance with international standards, including reception of asylum seekers. — Implement Albania's national strategy on migration and national action plan on asylum. — Ensure that Albania is in a position to meet the SAA requirements regarding EU citizens working and/or residing in Albania. — Progressively conclude, ratify and implement all the main international conventions in the field of migration. Money laundering — Step up the fight against economic and financial crime, including money-laundering and counterfeiting of currencies. — Achieve tangible results in the fight against money-laundering, both within and outside the financial sector. Drugs — Ensure substantially improved results in the fight against drug trafficking, especially as regards synthetic drugs, heroin and cocaine. Police — Continue to bring police services up to European standards, most notably by means of adequate training and equipment. — Achieve significant results in the fight against crime and in fighting corruption and other criminal behaviour within police ranks. Fighting organised crime and terrorism — Further increase international cooperation in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. — Make major progress on the rate, number and quality of prosecutions in relation to offences connected with organised crime and trafficking and also in terms of seizure of the proceeds of crime. — Fully incorporate into domestic legislation and implement the international conventions and protocols on prevention of terrorism to which Albania is party. Protection of personal data — Ensure the efficient monitoring and enforcement of national personal data protection legislation. 4. PROGRAMMING Community assistance under the stabilisation and association process to the Western Balkan countries will be provided under the existing financial instruments, in particular by Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 (IPA), and for programmes adopted before 2007, Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 (CARDS Regulation) (1).The financing agreements serve as legal basis for the implementation of the concrete programmes. Accordingly, this Decision will have no financial implications. Albania can also have access to funding from multi-country and horizontal programmes. 5. CONDITIONALITY Assistance to the Western Balkan countries is conditional on progress on satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and on meeting the specific priorities of this European Partnership. Failure to respect these conditions could lead the Council to take appropriate measures on the basis of Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 or, in the case of pre-2007 programmes, on the basis of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000. The assistance is also subject to the conditions defined by the Council in its conclusions of 29 April 1997, in particular as regards the recipients' undertaking to carry out democratic, economic and institutional reforms. Specific conditions are also included in individual annual programmes. The financing decisions will be followed by a financing agreement signed with Albania. 6. MONITORING Implementation of the European Partnership will be examined by the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably the annual reports presented by the Commission. (1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 (OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23).

Summary: European Partnership with Albania European Partnership with Albania The European Partnership – an instrument of the Stabilisation and Association Process – is intended to provide additional, tailored support to the Albanian authorities in order to realise Albania’s European perspective. Its aim is to identify priority areas where further efforts and reforms are required, calling in particular for Albania to bring its legislation into line with that of the Community. It also provides a reference framework for financial assistance from Community funds. ACT Council Decision 2008/210/EC of 18 February 2008 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Albania and repealing Decision 2006/54/EC. SUMMARY The European Partnership with Albania is the main instrument for assisting the Albanian authorities in realising their country’s European perspective. This was confirmed at the Zagreb summit in 2000 and reinforced by the Thessaloniki summit in 2003. The European Partnership with Albania is an instrument of the Stabilisation and Association Process. It was introduced for the countries of the Western Balkans concerned under the Thessaloniki agenda (2003), which imparted fresh impetus to the process. The European Partnerships are modelled on the accession partnerships for the candidate countries under the reinforced pre-accession strategy. The Partnerships for the Western Balkans have Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 as their legal basis. OBJECTIVE The objective of the European Partnership is to register in a common reference framework: the priority areas for reform; these are identified according to the country’s requirements and involve the adoption and/or implementation of appropriate legislation; financial assistance guidelines for the implementation of these priority areas; the principles and conditions governing implementation of the partnership. The Council of the European Union adopts the European Partnership, and its subsequent amendments, by a qualified majority on the basis of a proposal from the Commission. The current Partnership updates and adapts the previous partnership adopted in 2006. European Partnerships are flexible instruments designed to reflect the progress made by the countries concerned and the efforts still required. In this regard, the various priorities identified by the partnerships are defined according to evaluations carried out by the Commission to assess their implementation. With a view to achieving the objectives identified in the European Partnership, Albania must adopt a national plan setting out procedures and a timetable for implementing the priorities of the Partnership. Implementation of the Partnership is monitored within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process and its mechanisms, in particular the annual report presented by the Commission, which assesses the progress to date and the efforts still to be made. PRIORITIES The European Partnership establishes priorities which are both realistic and attainable goals for the country concerned. It distinguishes between short-term priorities, which are expected to be achieved within one to two years, and medium-term priorities, which are expected to be achieved within three to four years. The main priorities identified for Albania relate to its capacity to meet: the Copenhagen criteria defined in 1993; the conditions set for the Stabilisation and Association Process (Council conclusions of 27 April 1997 and of 21 and 22 June 1999); the 2000 Zagreb declaration; and the Thessaloniki agenda of 2003. These short- and medium-term priorities can be categorised as follows: the key priorities are short-term priorities. These include strengthening administrative capacity, promoting constructive dialogue between the various stakeholders on the implementation of reforms, increasing the independence and transparency of the justice system, implementing the 2007‑2013 anti‑corruption strategy, implementing the recommendations on elections made by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) [FR], amending the electoral code, strengthening public‑sector governance, pursuing the fight against organised crime and stabililising the position of the state electricity company KESH; political requirements, such as democracy and the rule of law (governance, public administration, the judicial system, anti-corruption policy), human rights and the protection of minorities; economic requirements, which cover implementation of a stability‑oriented fiscal policy and a monetary policy conducive to maintaining price stability, intensification of the fight against the informal economy and fraud, tax reform, establishment of a credit information bureau, improvement of the education system and privatisation; regional issues and international obligations (compliance with the stabilisation and association process commitments, conclusion and implementation of agreements with neighbouring countries, regional dialogue); European standards relating to aspects of the Community acquis, i.e. the internal market (free movement of goods, capital, persons and services, and the right of establishment, customs and taxation, competition, public procurement, intellectual property law, employment and social policy, education and research), sectoral policies (industry and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agriculture and fisheries, the environment, transport, energy, the information society and media, financial control), and justice, freedom and security (visas, border control, asylum and migration, money laundering, narcotics, police, fighting organised crime and terrorism, protection of personal data). Albania must endeavour to bring its legislation into line with the Community acquis in these areas and ensure its implementation. The priorities identified in this Partnership will constitute the basis for future evaluations by the Commission. FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK Albania receives financial assistance in support of the Stabilisation and Association Process. The instrument for pre-accession aid (IPA) is the basis for this assistance for the period 2007-2013. It replaces the IPAs for the period 2000‑2006, including the CARDS programme for the countries of the Western Balkans, under which a total of EUR 315.5 million was allocated to Albania during the period 2000-2006. The amount of financial assistance for Albania under the IPA for 2007-2010 is EUR 306.1 million in line with the multiannual indicative financial framework (MIFF) for the period 2008-2010, plus 2007. As stipulated in the MIFF, the indicative multiannual planning document for 2007-2009 for Albania (pdf) gives a breakdown of financing based on two components of the IPA, viz. "support for transition and institution-building" and "cross-border cooperation", on the basis of which assistance for Albania is determined. Community assistance is conditional upon recipient countries abiding by the essential elements which govern their relations with the EU, particularly the effective implementation of reforms. Under the European Partnership, Albania is under an obligation to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the priorities defined by the Partnership. Albania is also eligible for funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), principally under the pre-accession mandate. This mandate covers the candidate countries for EU accession and the countries of the Western Balkans. The financing provided by the EIB takes the form of grants and loans. References Act Entry into force - Date of expiry Deadline for transposition in the Member States Official Journal Decision 2008/210/EC 22.3.2008 - OJ L 80 of 19.3.2008 RELATED ACTS Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 5 March 2008: Western Balkans: Enhancing the European Perspective [COM(2008) 127 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. Commission Communication of 27 January 2006: The Western Balkans on the road to the EU: consolidating stability and raising prosperity [COM(2006) 27 – Not published in the Official Journal]. BILATERAL RELATIONS Council Decision 2006/580/EC of 12 June 2006 concerning the signing and conclusion of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part [Official Journal L 239 of 1.9.2006]. Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part [Official Journal L 239 of 1.9.2006] FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of 17 July 2006 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) [Official Journal L 210 of 31.7.2006]. Instrument for pre-accession assistance, multi-annual indicative financial framework for: 2008-2010 [COM(2006) 672 final – Not published in the Official Journal]; 2009-2011 [COM(2007) 689 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. Multiannual indicative planning document 2007-2009 for Albania (pdf). The reports for previous years are available on the website of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement. Last updated: 29.05.2008


19.3.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 80/32 COUNCIL DECISION of 18 February 2008 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and repealing Decision 2006/57/EC (2008/212/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 of 22 March 2004 on the establishment of partnerships in the framework of the stabilisation and association process (1), as amended, and in particular Article 2 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1) The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 endorsed the introduction of the partnerships as a means to materialise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. (2) Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 provides that the Council is to decide on the principles, priorities and conditions to be contained in the partnerships, as well as any subsequent adjustments. It states also that the follow-up to the partnerships will be ensured through the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably by the annual progress reports. (3) The European Council of 17 December 2005 granted the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia candidate country status. Therefore, a proposal has been made to amend Regulation 533/2004 to change the name of the partnership for this country from ‘European Partnership’ to ‘Accession Partnership’. (4) On 30 January 2006 the Council adopted the second Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2), following the proposal from the Commission of November 2005. (5) The Commission's Paper on enlargement strategy and main challenges 2006-2007 indicated that the partnerships would be updated at the end of 2007. (6) On 17 July 2006 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 (3) establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), which renews the framework for financial assistance to pre-accession countries. (7) It is therefore appropriate to adopt an Accession Partnership which updates the current partnership in order to identify renewed priorities for further work, on the basis of the findings of the 2007 Progress Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's preparations for further integration with the European Union. (8) In order to prepare for further integration with the European Union, the competent authorities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should develop a plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities of this Accession Partnership. (9) Decision 2006/57/EC should therefore be repealed, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The principles, priorities and conditions in the Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are set out in the Annex. Article 2 The implementation of the Accession Partnership shall be examined through the mechanisms established under the stabilisation and association process, notably the annual progress reports presented by the Commission. Article 3 Decision 2006/57/EC shall be repealed. Article 4 This Decision shall take effect on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 18 February 2008. For the Council The President D. RUPEL (1) OJ L 86, 24.3.2004, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 269/2006 (OJ L 47, 17.2.2006, p. 7). (2) Council Decision 2006/57/EC of 30 January 2006 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and repealing Decision 2004/518/EC (OJ L 35, 7.2.2006, p. 57). (3) OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 82. ANNEX THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA 2007 ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP 1. INTRODUCTION The European Council endorsed the introduction of the partnerships as a means to realise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. The proposed Accession Partnership updates the European Partnership of January 2006, on the basis of the findings of the 2007 Commission Progress Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It identifies new and remaining priorities for action. The new priorities are adapted to the country's specific needs and stage of preparation and will be updated as necessary. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is expected to develop a plan including a timetable and specific measures intended to address the Accession Partnership priorities. The partnership also provides guidance for financial assistance to the country. 2. PRINCIPLES The Stabilisation and Association Process remains the framework for the European course of the Western Balkan countries, all the way to their future accession. The priorities identified for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia relate to its capacity to meet the criteria defined by the Copenhagen European Council of 1993 and the conditions set by the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably the conditions defined by the Council in its conclusions of 29 April 1997 and 21 and 22 June 1999, the final declaration of the Zagreb Summit of 24 November 2000 and the Thessaloniki Agenda. 3. PRIORITIES The priorities listed in this Accession Partnership have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia can complete them or take them substantially forward over the next few years. A distinction is made between short-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within one to two years, and medium-term priorities, which are expected to be accomplished within three to four years. The priorities concern both legislation and its implementation. In view of the need to set priorities, clearly there are other tasks for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to complete which may become priorities in any future partnership, also taking into account future progress made by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Among the short-term priorities, the key ones have been identified and grouped together at the beginning of the list. The order of these key priorities does not imply a ranking of their importance. 3.1. SHORT-TERM PRIORITIES Key priorities — Ensure proper implementation of all commitments undertaken in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. — Promote a constructive and inclusive dialogue, in particular in areas which require consensus between all political parties, in the framework of the democratic institutions. — Ensure effective implementation of the law on police. — Establish a sustained track record on implementation of judiciary reforms and strengthen the independence and overall capacity of the judicial system. Implement the reform of the prosecution and finalise the appointment of the Judicial Council. — Establish a sustained track record on implementation of anti-corruption legislation. — Ensure that recruitment and career advancement of civil servants is not subject to political interference, further develop a merit-based career system and implement fully the law on civil servants. — Reduce impediments to employment creation and address in particular youth and long term unemployment. — Enhance the general business environment by further improving the rule of law, strengthening the independence of regulatory and supervisory agencies, speeding up legal procedures and continuing registration of property rights. Political criteria Democracy and the rule of law — Sustain implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement with a view, inter alia, to promoting inter-ethnic confidence-building. Parliament/Elections — Ensure that all future elections are conducted in accordance with the electoral code. — Deliver prompt decisions on any election irregularities and impose penalties that will deter further cases. — Enhance the capacity of Parliament, notably by increasing its resources. Government — Strengthen the transparency and accountability of the local administrations. In particular, strengthen internal control and audits. — Establish a satisfactory standard of municipal tax collection throughout the country. — Develop the capacity of municipalities to manage State-owned land. — Ensure that the number and competence of staff of municipalities are sufficient. Public administration — Introduce a merit-based career system in order to build an accountable, efficient and professional public administration at central and local level. — Ensure effective implementation of the code of ethics for civil servants. — Strengthen administrative capacity, notably by developing the capacity for strategic planning and policy development as well as enhancing training, and develop a general strategy on training for civil servants. — Implement effectively the measures adopted to ensure transparency in the administration, in particular in the decision-making process, and further promote active participation by civil society. — Pursue implementation of the reforms of the law enforcement agencies. — Ensure adequate administrative capacity to programme and manage IPA funds effectively. Judicial system — Further develop initial and continuous training in the academy for judges and prosecutors. — Complete the setting-up of the new court structures and allocate appropriate resources to ensure that they are fully operational and enhance their efficiency. — Ensure proper and full execution of court rulings. Anti-corruption policy — Ensure an adequate follow-up to the recommendations made by the State Commission Against Corruption and the State Audit Office. — Implement fully the recommendations made by the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). — Strengthen the administrative capacity needed to implement the rules adopted on the financing of political parties and electoral campaigns. Impose effective sanctions in case of infringements. — Follow up the reviews carried out of discretionary rights of certain public officials. — Ensure full implementation of the law on public access to information. — Further strengthen cooperation among institutions. Human rights and protection of minorities — Fully comply with the European Convention on Human Rights, the recommendations made by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture as well as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. — Implement fully the rules applying to ethics, internal control, professional and human rights standards in law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and the prison administration, including by regular training. — Provide sufficient resources to bring prison conditions up to a higher standard. — Set up effective mechanisms to identify, pursue and penalise all forms of discrimination by State and non-State bodies against individuals or groups. — Further enhance the protection of women's and children's rights. — Upgrade and implement the strategy on equitable representation of non-majority communities, notably by providing adequate resources and imposing effective sanctions for failure to meet targets. — Promote access to education, justice and social welfare for members of minority groups. Regional issues and international obligations — Continue to cooperate fully with the ICTY and, in view of the possible return of files from the ICTY, meet all the necessary preconditions that would ensure due process. — Continue to promote the transition from the Stability Pact to a more regionally owned cooperation framework and effective implementation of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). — Ensure good neighbourly relations, in particular by intensifying efforts with a constructive approach to find a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the name issue with Greece, in the framework of UN Security Council Resolutions 817/93 and 845/93, and avoid actions which could negatively affect them. — Foster cooperation with neighbouring countries and ensure effective implementation, notably on cross border cooperation, the fight against organised crime, trafficking and smuggling, judicial cooperation, border management, readmission and the environment. Economic criteria — Proceed with the registration of land and real estate and strengthen the cadastre in order to enhance legal certainty for economic operators and improve the functioning of market economy mechanisms. — Improve the efficiency of public services, notably by providing additional funds for training and for upgrading the current infrastructure. Ability to assume the obligations of membership Chapter 1: Free movement of goods — Adopt and implement horizontal framework legislation to complete the necessary infrastructure, and ensure a segregation of tasks between the various functions (regulation, standardisation, accreditation, metrology, conformity assessment and market surveillance) for conformity assessment procedures. — Draft a comprehensive strategy with milestones for implementation of the acquis for the relevant horizontal organisations (standardisation, accreditation, metrology and market surveillance) together with target dates and clear responsibilities for introducing and effectively implementing legislative measures and enhancing administrative capacity in the different sectors. — Draft an action plan for compliance with Articles 28 to 30 of the EC Treaty with milestones for internal screening of domestic legislation and administrative practices, for introducing mutual recognition clauses and for the necessary subsequent amendments. — Speed up the rate of adoption of European standards and step up efforts to become a full member of the European standardisation organisations. Chapter 3: Right of establishment and freedom to provide services — Remove the remaining barriers to establishment and to provision of cross-border services facing natural or legal persons from the EU. — Introduce in the legislation a differentiation between provision of services through permanent establishment and provision on a temporary basis. Chapter 4: Free movement of capital — Further strengthen the anti-money laundering framework, in particular by raising awareness among reporting institutions and by establishing a credible enforcement record on the part of the relevant institutions. Strengthen capacity and share intelligence information between institutions. — Make progress in the removal of remaining restrictions on capital movements. Chapter 5: Public procurement — Strengthen the Complaints Committee, in order to provide for an effective remedies system. Chapter 6: Company law — Develop effective and independent quality assurance and public oversight systems for statutory auditors and audit firms. Strengthen relevant administrative capacities. Chapter 7: Intellectual property law — Prepare a national strategy and action plan for building up the capacity necessary to implement and enforce the acquis in each area covered by this chapter, with particular focus on the need to provide specialised training for law enforcement bodies, judges, prosecutors and customs officials. — Develop public awareness campaigns and improve cooperation among law enforcement bodies and between all relevant stakeholders. Chapter 8: Competition policy — Establish a credible enforcement record in the area of anti-trust and focus on the most serious infringements of competition law. — Establish effective ex-ante control of State aid. — Strengthen the administrative capacity of the Commission for Protection of Competition and provide the adequate budget and staff. — Fully ensure the transparent and non-discriminatory application of competition law. Chapter 9: Financial services — Reinforce the legislation and the supervisory framework, including enforcement, for the financial sector, in particular for the insurance sector and securities markets. — Ensure the independent supervisory authority for the insurance sector becomes operational and is properly staffed. Chapter 10: Information society and media — End the breach of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement by taking all necessary measures to fulfil the obligation to liberalise the electronic communications sector, including adoption of all the secondary legislation required and further strengthening of the regulatory bodies. — Enforce competitive safeguards for operators with significant market power. — Reinforce the independence and administrative capacity of the regulatory authorities for electronic communications and media. — Ensure a stable and sustainable source of funding for the public service broadcaster and the Broadcasting Council. Chapter 11: Agriculture and rural development — Speed up the registration of agricultural land in the real estate cadastre. — Ensure collection and processing of sound and reliable agricultural data. — Continue preparations to establish effective and financially sound paying bodies for the management and control of agricultural funds, in line with EU requirements and international auditing standards. Chapter 12: Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy — Continue to align legislation with the veterinary and phytosanitary acquis, focusing on framework legislation compatible with the acquis. — Continue to reinforce the capacity of the veterinary service at both central and local levels in order to put in place an EU-compatible control system, particularly for import controls. — Ensure the operational character of the system for identification of bovines and registration of their movements and start a system of identification of pigs, sheep and goats. — Further align animal disease and animal health control systems with the EU legislative and institutional requirements and the contingency plans for notifiable diseases. — Assess the compliance of agri-food establishments with EU requirements, which will serve as a basis for a future upgrading plan of those establishments. Chapter 14: Transport policy — Continue implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of the South East Europe Core Regional Transport Network and strengthen cooperation with the South East Europe Transport Observatory. — Pursue alignment with the road transport acquis, notably on transport of dangerous goods, access to the market, social conditions, implementation of the digital tachograph and improvement of road safety. — In the rail sector, establish a regulatory body that is independent of the infrastructure manager and railway undertakings, establish a safety authority responsible for issuing safety certificates and align legislation with the EU rules on transport of dangerous goods by rail. Ensure financial stability by compensating for public service obligations in passenger transport and reducing debts. — Implement commitments taken under the first transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area Agreement including the implementation of the relevant aviation legislation. — Strengthen the administrative capacity of the civil aviation authority. Chapter 15: Energy — Continue to align the legislation on the internal electricity and gas markets, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources with the acquis in order gradually to open up the energy market to competition. — Continue to strengthen the independence of the Energy Regulatory Commission. — Fulfil the obligations arising from the Energy Community Treaty as regards the full implementation of the acquis on the internal gas and electricity market and on cross border exchanges in electricity. — Enhance administrative capacity in all energy sectors. including the Energy Agency in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. — Construct an appropriate storage facility for radioactive materials. — Ensure the proper and independent functioning of the Radiation Safety Directorate. Chapter 16: Taxation — Increase the administrative capacity to implement tax legislation and to fight fiscal evasion. — Take structural measures urgently to reform control policy and improve control capacity. — Develop an audit strategy and adequate IT systems. — Commit to the principles of the Code of Conduct for business taxation and ensure that new tax measures comply with them. Chapter 18: Statistics — Strengthen the capacity of the State Statistical Office to ensure timely implementation of the next population census and to allow continuous development of national accounts and their underlying statistics; in particular, address remaining gaps in collection and processing of agricultural statistics and business statistics in line with EU standards and methodology and increase reporting of statistical data to Eurostat. — Finalise establishment of the statistical business register and farm register, including routines to ensure that the registers contain up-to-date information. Chapter 19: Employment and social policies — Continue transposition of the acquis and strengthen the related administrative and enforcement structures, including the Labour Inspectorate. — Ensure administrative capacity to implement social inclusion and social protection policies. — Ensure a functioning and representative social dialogue. — Take further efforts improve the situation of persons with disabilities. Chapter 20: Enterprise and industrial policy — Define and implement an industrial strategy conducive to growth and innovation. — Introduce systematic assessment of the impact of new regulations on enterprises. — Strengthen resources of the SME department and the SME agency and ensure implementation of SME strategy and Action Plan and the European Charter for Small Enterprises. — Continue work on regulatory simplification, ‘regulatory guillotine’ and reduction of bureaucratic barriers to doing business; introduce regulatory impact assessments. Chapter 22: Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments — Reinforce the establishment of institutional structures and strengthen administrative capacity in the areas of programming, project preparation, monitoring, evaluation and financial management and control, particularly at the level of line ministries, to implement EU pre-accession programmes as a preparation for the implementation of the Community's cohesion policy. — Finalise the national regional development strategy. Chapter 23: Judiciary and fundamental rights — Implement the national law on personal data protection. Sign and ratify the additional protocol to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal data regarding supervisory authorities and trans-border data flow. — See for other priorities the section on political criteria. Chapter 24: Justice, freedom and security — Continue to implement the integrated border management action plan, develop the main databases for border management and ensure that they are connected, upgrade equipment for document analysis and border surveillance, ensure effective implementation of requirements for delivery of high-quality travel and identity documents and provide further training for staff. — Provide adequate funding and training for implementation of the police reform, strengthen coordination and cooperation both among police bodies and between the police and other law enforcement agencies and strengthen cooperation between the criminal police and the public prosecutors. — Develop and implement a comprehensive human resources and training strategy for the police and upgrade their equipment. — Further intensify the fight against organised crime, notably by making better use of special investigative measures and by promptly issuing and following up international arrest warrants (including for computer crime, with a special focus on child pornography), and create an integrated intelligence system for inter-agency use in the fight against organised crime, including trafficking in human beings, arms and drugs. — Strengthen efforts to implement the national action plan to combat human trafficking and the capacity to investigate computer crime. — Implement the EC/former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia readmission agreement and negotiate readmission agreements with the countries of origin of transiting migrants. — Intensify the process of introduction of legal instruments guaranteeing the rights of persons in need of (international) protection. — Ensure alignment of asylum and aliens acts with the relevant acquis. Chapter 25: Science and research — Strengthen research and technological development capacity in order to ensure successful participation in the Community framework programmes. — Start designing an integrated research policy and take actions to integrate into the European Research Area. Chapter 26: Education and Culture — Complete the legislative and administrative framework for the management of the Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action programmes and strengthen the implementing bodies. Chapter 27: Environment — Continue legislative alignment with the acquis, in particular in the fields of air quality, waste management and water quality, and improve significantly implementation of legislation and environmental monitoring. — Strengthen the Environmental Inspectorate and other enforcement bodies, establish a credible enforcement record and ensure that fines and other sanctions are effectively applied and have a dissuasive effect. — Strengthen administrative capacity at national and local levels and improve coordination between administrative bodies in charge of environment-related issues. — Prepare strategic plans, including financial strategies, and prepare a national waste management strategy and waste management plan. — Develop an environmental investment strategy based on estimates of the cost of alignment. — Integrate environmental protection requirements into other sectoral policies, in particular by developing environmental impact assessments. — Increase investments in environmental infrastructure, with particular emphasis on waste water collection and treatment, drinking water supply, tackling air pollution and waste management. Chapter 29: Customs union — Increase administrative capacity to implement customs legislation and to fight cross-border crime. — Further approximate legislation and procedures to the acquis, in particular in the areas of transit and allocation of tariff quotas. — Align the law on technological/industrial development zones with the acquis. Chapter 31: Foreign, security and defence policy — Implement the legislation for enforcement of the common position in the field of international restrictive measures. Chapter 32: Financial control — Review the public internal financial control (PIFC) policy paper and present laws on PIFC and internal audit, in order to make both the PIFC policies and current legislation comprehensive and consistent, and update the action plan for implementation of the medium-term priorities related to PIFC. — Complete the establishment of internal audit units in central State institutions, create similar units at municipal level where appropriate and ensure adequate staff, training and equipment. — Develop efficient management, monitoring, control and audit systems necessary for decentralised implementation of programmes under the EU pre-accession instruments. 3.2. MEDIUM-TERM PRIORITIES Political criteria Democracy and the rule of law Government — Complete the decentralisation process. Public administration — Further develop the capacity of the administration to implement the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Anti-corruption policy — Complete the implementation of the strategy to fight corruption. — Enforce regulations related to the prevention of conflict of interests, in line with international standards. Human rights and protection of minorities — Further promote respect for human rights by law enforcement bodies and in detention centres and prisons. — Further implement the strategy on equitable representation of non-majority communities. Regional issues and international obligations — Promote regional dialogue, stability, good neighbourliness and cooperation. Economic criteria — Step up efforts to safeguard the sustainability of the electricity market, in view of the country's commitments to liberalisation, by eliminating existing distortions due to non-cost-recovery prices and by strengthening the regulatory institutions and the physical infrastructure. — Raise the quality of public spending by strengthening the public sector's capacity for medium-term planning and improving the budgetary execution. Continue to improve the quality of education, by providing the follow-up funding for infrastructure and staffing necessary to implement thoroughly recent reforms in the education sector. — Continue to improve the labour market performance and to reduce unemployment, in particular by taking additional measures to address youth and long-term unemployment and by modernising the social security and educational system. — Continue efforts to integrate the informal sector into the formal economy. — Upgrade the country's infrastructure, in particular for energy and transport, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the economy at large. Ability to assume the obligations of membership Chapter 1: Free movement of goods — Develop a market surveillance structure in line with the acquis. Chapter 3: Right of establishment and freedom to provide services — Align with the EU acquis on mutual recognition of professional qualifications, including training provisions, and develop the required administrative structures. — Align with the postal services acquis, including establishment of an independent national regulatory authority. Chapter 5: Public procurement — Achieve fully operational public procurement structures which ensure that public procurement procedures are conducted fully in accordance with the EC standards. Develop e-procurement. Chapter 7: Intellectual property law — Build up the capacity necessary to implement and enforce the acquis in each area covered by this chapter and establish a satisfactory track record on investigation, prosecution and judicial handling of piracy and counterfeiting. Chapter 8: Competition policy — Further align the legislation with the EU anti-trust and State aid acquis. — Further improve the enforcement record in the areas of anti-trust and State aid control. — Increase awareness among government institutions, business and the general public. Chapter 9: Financial services — Establish a credible enforcement record on combating uninsured driving. — Further align with EU legislation in financial services. Chapter 11: Agriculture and rural development — Upgrade the capacity of the agricultural administration and complete preparations for enforcement and practical application of the management mechanisms of the common agricultural policy, in particular the integrated administration and control system (IACS), and ensure a functioning land parcel identification system (LPIS). Chapter 12: Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy — Further align the legislation with the acquis regarding transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) and animal by-products, implement and control its enforcement and set up the necessary collection and treatment system. — Establish a properly staffed plant health authority. Further align the phytosanitary legislation with the acquis. — Adopt a plan for the upgrading of agri-food establishments and start its implementation. — Strengthen the laboratory capacity in the food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary domain. Chapter 14: Transport policy — Continue to work towards complete alignment with the acquis in the area of road transport (including the implementation of the digital tachograph), continue alignment with the railway acquis (first and second railway packages and interoperability), achieve full alignment with the aviation legislation and ensure vigorous enforcement of the corresponding legislation. — Implement commitments taken under the second transitional phase of the European Common Aviation Area Agreement. Chapter 15: Energy — Continue efforts to ensure an adequate supply of energy and to develop and implement an energy policy in line with the obligations under the Energy Community Treaty. Chapter 17: Economic and monetary policy — Align the legal framework in order to ensure full central bank independence. Chapter 18: Statistics — Further develop all areas of statistics, achieve full harmonisation in key areas in terms of frequency, scope, classifications, timeliness and quality and put in place a uniform management and production system. — Put in place a well coordinated national statistical system. Chapter 19: Employment and social policies — Develop permanent mechanism for social dialogue. — Develop long term social inclusion policies and enhance access to the labour market of vulnerable groups. — Further enhance social protection policies. — Develop mechanisms to monitor the situation of persons with disabilities. Chapter 20: Enterprise and industrial policy — Further develop support mechanisms for SMEs and improve access for SMEs to financial services- Define and implement an industrial strategy conducive to growth and innovation. — Finalise and implement the strategy development on the mainstreaming of entrepreneurship education based on successful donor supported pilot projects. Chapter 22: Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments — Strengthen at central level and develop at regional and local level the administrative capacity. Ensure a clear distribution of responsibilities and strengthen capacity of coordination between designated implementing authorities/structures including local authorities. Chapter 24: Justice, freedom and security — Ensure alignment with the relevant acquis in the area of asylum and immigration. Chapter 25: Science and research — Apply an integrated research policy. Chapter 26: Education and Culture — Continue efforts to improve the quality of education, including primary education, and to create a modern vocational education and training system and a higher education sector linked with the labour market and economic needs and promoting of regional cooperation in the field of higher education. Chapter 27: Environment — Continue to integrate environmental protection requirements into other sectoral policies, in particular by developing environmental impact assessments. — Further increase investments in environmental infrastructure, with particular emphasis on waste water collection and treatment, drinking water supply, tackling air pollution and waste management. Chapter 28: Consumer and health protection — Complete alignment with the EU acquis in the field of consumer protection and strengthen the administrative capacity needed for effective market surveillance. — Continue alignment with the EU acquis in the field of public health policy, more specifically in the fields of tobacco, blood, tissues and cells and communicable diseases. Strengthen the institutional, administrative and financial capacity in the field of public health. — In the area of mental health, develop community-based services as an alternative to institutionalisation, and ensure allocation of sufficient financial resources for mental health care. Chapter 31: Foreign, security and defence policy — Bring the agreement concluded with the USA regarding the conditions of surrender of people to the International Criminal Court into line with the EU guiding principles adopted by the European Council in September 2002. Chapter 32: Financial control — Further develop and implement the EU's public internal financial control (PIFC) model (decentralised managerial accountability and functionally independent internal audit) by means of coherent legislation and adequate institutional capacity under the guidance of the Ministry of Financial Affairs. — Further strengthen the operational capacity and the functional and financial independence of the State Audit Office. — Implement procedures and administrative capacity to ensure effective protection of the EC's financial interests. 4. PROGRAMMING Community assistance under the stabilisation and association process to the Western Balkan countries will be provided under the existing financial instruments, in particular by Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 (IPA), and for programmes adopted before 2007, Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 (CARDS Regulation) (1). The financing agreements serve as legal basis for the implementation of the concrete programmes. Accordingly, this Decision will have no financial implications. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia can have access to funding from multi-country and horizontal programmes. 5. CONDITIONALITY Assistance to the Western Balkan countries is conditional on progress on satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and on meeting the requirements of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the specific priorities of this Accession Partnership. Failure to respect these conditions could lead the Council to take appropriate measures on the basis of Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 or, in the case of pre-2007 programmes, on the basis of Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000. The assistance is also subject to the conditions defined by the Council in its conclusions of 29 April 1997, in particular as regards the recipients' undertaking to carry out democratic, economic and institutional reforms. Specific conditions are also included in individual annual programmes. The financing decisions will be followed by a financing agreement signed with the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 6. MONITORING Implementation of the Accession Partnership will be examined by the mechanisms established under the Stabilisation and Association Process, notably the annual reports presented by the Commission. (1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 (OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23).

Summary: Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia The Accession Partnership – an instrument of the stabilisation and association process – is intended to provide additional, tailored support to the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) with a view to helping the country, which is a candidate for accession to the EU, in its preparations for future membership. The Accession Partnership identifies the priority areas where reforms and efforts are required. It also provides a basis for targeting the Community's assistance to the country. ACT Council Decision 2008/212/EC of 18 February 2008 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and repealing Decision 2006/57/EC. SUMMARY The Accession Partnership with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is the main instrument for helping the Government of the FYROM to realise the country's prospect of joining the European Union (EU). After submitting its application for membership on 22 March 2004, the FYROM was granted candidate-country status by the European Council on 17 December 2005. The Accession Partnership with the FYROM is an instrument of the stabilisation and association process set up under the Thessaloniki agenda (2003) for the western Balkan countries. The European Partnerships and the Accession Partnerships for the western Balkan countries have Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 as their legal basis. OBJECTIVE The objective of the Partnership is to register in a common reference framework: the priority areas where reforms and efforts are required; these are identified according to the country’s requirements and involve the adoption and implementation of appropriate legislation; guidelines for financial assistance for taking action in these priority areas; the principles and conditions governing implementation of the Partnership. The Council of the European Union adopts the Accession Partnership, as well as its subsequent amendments, by a qualified majority on the basis of a proposal from the Commission. The current Partnership supersedes the Partnership of 2006 and updates it by identifying new priorities. European Partnerships are flexible instruments designed to reflect the progress made by the countries concerned and to highlight the efforts still required in other areas as identified by the Commission’s evaluations. With a view to achieving the objectives identified in the Accession Partnership, the FYROM must adopt an action plan setting out procedures and a programme for implementing the priorities of the Partnership. Implementation of the Partnership is monitored within the framework of the stabilisation and association process and its mechanisms, in particular the annual evaluation report presented by the Commission. PRIORITIES The Accession Partnership establishes priorities which are both realistic and attainable goals. In this regard, a distinction is made between short-term and medium-term priorities, which are expected to be achieved within one to two years and within three to four years respectively. The priorities identified for the FYROM relate to its capacity to meet: the Copenhague criteria of 1993; the conditions set for the Stabilisation and Association Process (Council conclusions of 27 April 1997 and 21 and 22 June 1999); the Zagreb declaration of 2000; the Thessaloniki agenda of 2003. The short- and medium-term priorities are classified as follows: the key priorities are short-term priorities. They focus on the application of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the establishment of a constructive political dialogue, the implementation of the police law, the demonstration that sustainable progress has been made in implementing judicial reforms and anti-corruption legislation, the civil service, including the prevention of political interference in the recruitment and the career of officials, the creation of jobs and the consolidation of the rule of law in order to improve the business climate; the requirements relating to the political criteria cover democracy and the rule of law (implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the electoral process, the public authorities, the administration, the judicial system, the fight against corruption); respect for human rights and the protection of minorities (through compliance with international and European standards, such as those of the Council of Europe; the creation of law-enforcement bodies and judicial and prison administrations; the fight against discrimination; the protection of human, women's and children's rights; the equitable representation of communities and access to education for minorities); regional questions and international obligations (cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY); regional cooperation and dialogue, including the implementation of the Central European Free Trade Agreement; good neighbourly relations, and in particular finding a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution for the country's name; implementation of cooperation agreements with neighbouring countries, notably on cross-border cooperation, the fight against organised crime, trafficking and smuggling, the management of external borders, readmission and the environment); the requirements relating to the economic criteria for strengthening legal certainty for economic operators (the registration of land and real estate) and the functioning of the market economy; the improvement of public services (creation and modernisation of infrastructures); the viability of the electricity market; the quality of public spending and of education; labour market performance and the reduction of unemployment; the integration of the informal economy into the formal economy and the modernisation of national infrastructures for improving the economy's competitiveness, particularly with regard to energy and transport; the ability to assume the obligations of membership concerning the adoption and implementation of the Community acquis regarding a certain number of EU policies classified under headings. FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK The FYROM receives financial assistance to help it fulfil the accession criteria. The Accession Partnership serves as a reference instrument for determining the different areas where funds are allocated (according to identified priorities). The decisions which establish the various financial instruments and programming documents provide the actual legal framework for the financial assistance. The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is the sole financial instrument for candidate countries and potential candidate countries for the period 2007-2013. It replaces the CARDS Programme, the financial instrument of the stabilisation and association process for the countries of the western Balkans covering the period 2000-2006. Over this period, a total of EUR 298.2 million was allocated to the FYROM under CARDS. Financial assistance for national programmes under the IPA for 2007-2010 should be EUR 401.1 million, in line with the multiannual indicative financial framework (MIFF) for 2009-2011 (including 2007 and 2008) . Community assistance is conditional on recipient countries abiding by the essential elements which govern their relations with the EU, particularly the effective implementation of reforms. Under the Accession Partnership, the FYROM is required to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the priorities defined by the Partnership. Failure to meet these requirements could result in the Council suspending financial assistance. The FYROM also receives funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), principally within the framework of the mechanism for granting regional loans to the EU’s south-eastern neighbours. This mandate covers the candidate countries and the countries of the western Balkans. The financing provided by the EIB takes the form of grants and loans. References Act Entry into force Deadline for transposition in the Member States Official Journal Decision 2008/212/EC 22.3.2008 - OJ L 80 of 19.3.2008 RELATED ACTS Communication of 5 March 2008 from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council entitled "Eastern Balkans: Enhancing the European perspective" [COM(2008)127 final – Not published in the Official Journal]. Commission Communication of 27 January 2006 entitled "The Western Balkans on the road to the EU: consolidating stability and raising prosperity" [COM(2006) 27 – Not published in the Official Journal]. BILATERAL RELATIONS 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 [Official Journal L 84 of 20.3.2004]. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 of 17 July 2006 establishing an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) [Official Journal L 210 of 31.7.2006]. Multiannual indicative financial framework (MIFF) for: 2008 to 2010 [COM(2006) 672 final - Not published in the Official Journal]; 2009 to 2011 [COM(2007) 689 final - Not published in the Official Journal. Multiannual indicative planning document 2007-2009 for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (pdf) . EVALUATION The reports are available on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement. Last updated: 27.05.2008