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Document 02009A0428(02)-20170201
Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part
Consolidated text: Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part
Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2009/332/2017-02-01
02009A0428(02) — EN — 01.02.2017 — 002.001
This text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The Union's institutions do not assume any liability for its contents. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union and available in EUR-Lex. Those official texts are directly accessible through the links embedded in this document
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STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT (OJ L 107 28.4.2009, p. 166) |
Amended by:
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Official Journal |
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No |
page |
date |
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L 107 |
2 |
28.4.2009 |
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L 165 |
19 |
4.6.2014 |
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DECISION No 1 OF THE EU-ALBANIA STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION COUNCIL of 11 May 2015 |
L 129 |
50 |
27.5.2015 |
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STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part
THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,
THE CZECH REPUBLIC,
THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
IRELAND,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,
THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,
THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,
THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,
THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,
THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,
THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,
THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,
THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,
THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,
THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,
THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,
THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,
THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,
THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
Contracting Parties to the Treaty establishing the European Community, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community and the Treaty on European Union,
hereinafter referred to as the ‘Member States’, and
THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY,
hereinafter referred to as the ‘Community’,
of the one part, and
THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, hereinafter referred to as ‘Albania’,
of the other part,
CONSIDERING the strong links between the Parties and the values that they share and their desire to strengthen those links and establish a close and lasting relationship based on reciprocity and mutual interest, which should allow Albania to further strengthen and extend the relations with the Community and its Member States, as previously established with the Community through the Agreement on Trade and Commercial and Economic Cooperation of 1992;
CONSIDERING the importance of this Agreement in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association process with the countries of south-eastern Europe, in the establishment and consolidation of a stable European order based on cooperation, of which the European Union is a mainstay, as well as in the framework of the Stability Pact;
CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to contribute by all means to the political, economic and institutional stabilisation in Albania as well as in the region, through the development of civil society and democratisation, institution building and public administration reform, regional trade integration and enhanced economic cooperation, as well as through cooperation in a wide range of areas, particularly in justice and home affairs, and the strengthening of national and regional security;
CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to increasing political and economic freedoms as the very basis of this Agreement, as well as their commitment to respect human rights and the rule of law, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, and democratic principles through a multi-party system with free and fair elections;
CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to the full implementation of all principles and provisions of the UN Charter, of the OSCE, notably those of the Helsinki Final Act, the concluding documents of the Madrid and Vienna Conferences, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, and of the Stability Pact for south-eastern Europe, so as to contribute to regional stability and cooperation among the countries of the region;
CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to the principles of free market economy and the readiness of the Community to contribute to the economic reforms in Albania;
CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to free trade, in compliance with the rights and obligations arising out of the WTO;
CONSIDERING the wish of the Parties to further develop regular political dialogue on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, including regional aspects, taking into account the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union;
CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to combat organised crime and to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism on the basis of the Declaration issued by the European Conference on 20 October 2001;
CONVINCED that this Agreement will create a new climate for economic relations between them and, above all, for the development of trade and investment, factors crucial to economic restructuring and modernisation;
BEARING IN MIND the commitment by Albania to approximate its legislation in the relevant sectors to that of the Community, and to effectively implement it;
TAKING ACCOUNT of the Community’s willingness to provide decisive support for the implementation of reform and to use all available instruments of cooperation and technical, financial and economic assistance on a comprehensive indicative multiannual basis to this endeavour;
CONFIRMING that the provisions of this Agreement that fall within the scope of the Third Part, Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community bind the United Kingdom and Ireland as separate Contracting Parties, and not as a part of the European Community, until the United Kingdom or Ireland (as the case may be) notifies Albania that it has become bound as part of the European Community in accordance with the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community. The same applies to Denmark, in accordance with the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to those Treaties;
RECALLING the Zagreb Summit which called for further consolidation of relations between the countries of the Stabilisation and Association process and the European Union, as well as enhanced regional cooperation;
RECALLING that the Thessaloniki Summit reinforced the Stabilisation and Association process as the policy framework for the European Union’s relations with the western Balkan countries and underlined the prospect of their integration with the European Union on the basis of their individual reform progress and merit;
RECALLING the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Facilitation and Liberalisation, signed in Brussels on 27 June 2001, by which Albania, together with other countries of the region, committed itself to negotiate a network of bilateral free trade agreements so as to enhance the region’s ability to attract investments and the prospects of its integration into the global economy;
RECALLING the European Union’s readiness to integrate to the fullest possible extent Albania into the political and economic mainstream of Europe and its status as a potential candidate for European Union membership on the basis of the Treaty on European Union and fulfilment of the criteria defined by the European Council in June 1993, subject to the successful implementation of this Agreement, notably regarding regional cooperation,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
The aims of this Association are:
TITLE I
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Article 2
Respect for the democratic principles and human rights as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights, in the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, respect for international law principles and the rule of law as well as the principles of market economy as reflected in the Document of the CSCE Bonn Conference on Economic Cooperation, shall form the basis of the domestic and external policies of the Parties and constitute essential elements of this Agreement.
Article 3
International and regional peace and stability and the development of good neighbourly relations are central to the Stabilisation and Association process referred to in the conclusions of the Council of the European Union of 21 June 1999. The conclusion and the implementation of this Agreement come within the framework of the conclusions of the Council of the European Union of 29 April 1997, and are based on the individual merits of Albania.
Article 4
Albania commits itself to continue and foster cooperation and good neighbourly relations with the other countries of the region including an appropriate level of mutual concessions concerning the movement of persons, goods, capital and services as well as the development of projects of common interest, notably those related to combating organised crime, corruption, money laundering, illegal migration and trafficking, including in particular in human beings and illicit drugs. This commitment constitutes a key factor in the development of the relations and cooperation between the Parties and thus contributes to regional stability.
Article 5
The Parties reaffirm the importance that they attach to the fight against terrorism and the implementation of international obligations in this area.
Article 6
The Association shall be implemented progressively and shall be fully realised over a transitional period of a maximum of 10 years, divided into two successive stages.
The two stages shall not apply to Title IV, for which a specific schedule is laid down under that Title.
The purpose of this division into successive stages is to make a thorough mid-term review of the implementation of this Agreement. In the field of legal approximation and law enforcement, the aim shall be for Albania to concentrate in the first stage on the fundamental elements, with specific benchmarks, of the acquis as described under Title VI.
The Stabilisation and Association Council established under Article 116 shall regularly review the application of this Agreement and the accomplishment by Albania of legal, administrative, institutional and economic reforms in the light of the preamble and in accordance with the general principles laid down in this Agreement.
The first stage shall start upon the date of entry into force of this Agreement. During the fifth year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall evaluate the progress made by Albania, and shall decide whether this progress has been sufficient for the passage into the second stage in order to achieve full Association. It shall also decide on any specific provisions deemed necessary to govern the second stage.
Article 7
This Agreement shall be fully compatible with and implemented in a manner consistent with the relevant WTO provisions, in particular Article XXIV of the GATT 1994 and Article V of the GATS.
TITLE II
POLITICAL DIALOGUE
Article 8
The political dialogue is intended to promote in particular:
The Parties furthermore agree to cooperate and to contribute to countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery by:
Political dialogue on this matter may take place on a regional basis.
Article 9
At the request of the Parties, political dialogue may also take place in the following formats:
Article 10
Political dialogue at parliamentary level shall take place within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee established under Article 122.
Article 11
Political dialogue may take place within a multilateral framework, and as a regional dialogue including other countries of the region.
TITLE III
REGIONAL COOPERATION
Article 12
In conformity with its commitment to international and regional peace and stability, and to the development of good neighbourly relations, Albania shall actively promote regional cooperation. The Community assistance programmes may support projects having a regional or cross-border dimension through its technical assistance programmes.
Whenever Albania foresees to reinforce its cooperation with one of the countries mentioned in Articles 13, 14 and 15, it shall inform and consult the Community and its Member States according to the provisions laid down in Title X.
Albania shall review existing bilateral agreements with all relevant countries, or will conclude new ones, in order to ensure that they are compatible with the principles set out in the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Facilitation and Liberalisation signed in Brussels on 27 June 2001.
Article 13
Cooperation with other countries having signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement
After the signature of this Agreement, Albania shall start negotiations with the countries which have already signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with a view to concluding bilateral Conventions on regional cooperation, the aim of which shall be to enhance the scope of cooperation between the countries concerned.
The main elements of these conventions shall be:
These Conventions shall contain provisions for the creation of the necessary institutional mechanisms, as appropriate.
These Conventions shall be concluded within two years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement. Readiness by Albania to conclude such Conventions will be a condition for the further development of the relations between Albania and the European Union.
Albania shall initiate similar negotiations with the remaining countries of the region once these countries have signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Article 14
Cooperation with other countries concerned by the Stabilisation and Association process
Albania shall pursue regional cooperation with the other countries concerned by the Stabilisation and Association process in some or all the fields of cooperation covered by this Agreement, and notably those of common interest. Such cooperation shall be compatible with the principles and objectives of this Agreement.
Article 15
Cooperation with countries candidate for accession to the European Union
These negotiations shall be opened as soon as possible, with a view to concluding such an Agreement before the end of the transitional period referred to in Article 16(1).
TITLE IV
FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS
Article 16
CHAPTER I
Industrial products
Article 17
Article 18
Article 19
Customs duties on imports into Albania of goods originating in the Community which are listed in Annex I shall be progressively reduced in accordance with the following timetable:
Article 20
The Community and Albania shall abolish upon the date of entry into force of this Agreement in trade between themselves any charges having an effect equivalent to customs duties on imports.
Article 21
Article 22
Albania declares its readiness to reduce its customs duties in trade with the Community more rapidly than is provided for in Article 19, if its general economic situation and the situation of the economic sector concerned so permit.
The Stabilisation and Association Council shall analyse the situation in this respect and make the relevant recommendations.
Article 23
Protocol 1 lays down the arrangements applicable to iron and steel products of Chapters 72 and 73 of the Combined Nomenclature.
CHAPTER II
Agriculture and fisheries
Article 24
Definition
Article 25
Protocol 2 lays down the trade arrangements for processed agricultural products which are listed therein.
Article 26
Article 27
Agricultural products
For the products covered by Chapters 7 and 8 of the Combined Nomenclature, for which the Common Customs Tariff provides for the application of ad valorem customs duties and a specific customs duty, the elimination shall apply only to the ad valorem part of the duty.
On the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania shall:
abolish the customs duties applicable on imports of certain agricultural products originating in the Community, listed in Annex II(a);
reduce progressively the customs duties applicable on imports of certain agricultural products originating in the Community, listed in Annex II(b) in accordance with the timetable indicated for each product in that Annex;
abolish the customs duties applicable on imports of certain agricultural products originating in the Community, listed in Annex II(c) within the limit of the tariff quota indicated for the products concerned.
Article 28
Fish and fisheries products
Article 29
Taking account of the volume of trade in agricultural and fishery products between the Parties, of their particular sensitivities, of the rules of the Community common policies and of the Albanian policies for agriculture and fisheries, of the role of agriculture and fisheries in Albania’s economy and of the consequences of the multilateral trade negotiations under the WTO, the Community and Albania shall examine in the Stabilisation and Association Council, no later than six years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, product by product and on an orderly and appropriate reciprocal basis, the opportunities for granting each other further concessions with a view to implementing greater liberalisation of the trade in agricultural and fishery products.
Article 30
The provisions of this Chapter shall in no way affect the application, on a unilateral basis, of more favourable measures by one or the other Party.
Article 31
Notwithstanding other provisions of this Agreement, and in particular Articles 38 and 43, given the particular sensitivity of the agricultural and fisheries markets, if imports of products originating in one of the two Parties, which are the subject of concessions granted pursuant to Articles 25, 27 and 28, cause serious disturbance to the markets or to their domestic regulatory mechanisms in the other Party, both Parties shall enter into consultations immediately to find an appropriate solution. Pending such solution, the Party concerned may take the appropriate measures it deems necessary.
CHAPTER III
Common provisions
Article 32
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to trade in all products between the Parties except where otherwise provided herein or in Protocols 1, 2 and 3.
Article 33
Standstill
Article 34
Prohibition of fiscal discrimination
Article 35
The provisions concerning the abolition of customs duties on imports shall also apply to customs duties of a fiscal nature.
Article 36
Customs unions, free trade areas, cross-border arrangements
Article 37
Dumping and subsidy
Article 38
General safeguard clause
Where any product of one Party is being imported into the territory of the other Party in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause:
the importing Party may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Article.
For the implementation of the above paragraphs the following provisions shall apply:
The difficulties arising from the situation referred to in this Article shall be referred for examination to the Stabilisation and Association Council, which may take any decisions needed to put an end to such difficulties.
If the Stabilisation and Association Council or the exporting Party has not taken a decision putting an end to the difficulties or no other satisfactory solution has been reached within 30 days of the matter being referred to the Stabilisation and Association Council, the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures to remedy the problem in accordance with this Article. In the selection of safeguard measures, priority must be given to those which least disturb the functioning of the arrangements established in this Agreement. Safeguard measures applied in accordance with Article XIX GATT and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards shall preserve the level/margin of preference granted under this Agreement.
Where exceptional and critical circumstances requiring immediate action make prior information or examination, as the case may be, impossible, the Party concerned may, in the situations specified in this Article, apply forthwith provisional measures necessary to deal with the situation and shall inform the other Party immediately thereof.
The safeguard measures shall be notified immediately to the Stabilisation and Association Council and shall be the subject of periodic consultations within that body, particularly with a view to establishing a timetable for their abolition as soon as circumstances permit.
Article 39
Shortage clause
Where compliance with the provisions of this Title leads to:
a critical shortage, or threat thereof, of foodstuffs or other products essential to the exporting Party; or
re-export to a third country of a product against which the exporting Party maintains quantitative export restrictions, export duties or measures or charges having equivalent effect, and where the situations referred to above give rise, or are likely to give rise to major difficulties for the exporting Party;
that Party may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Article.
Article 40
State monopolies
Albania shall progressively adjust any State monopolies of a commercial character so as to ensure that, by the end of the fourth year following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, no discrimination regarding the conditions under which goods are procured and marketed exists between nationals of the Member States and Albania. The Stabilisation and Association Council shall be informed about the measures adopted to attain this objective.
Article 41
Except if otherwise stipulated in this Agreement, Protocol 4 lays down the rules of origin for the application of the provisions of this Agreement.
Article 42
Restrictions authorised
This Agreement shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security; the protection of health and life of humans, animals or plants; the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value or the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property, or rules relating to gold and silver. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the Parties.
Article 43
For the purpose of this Article a failure to provide administrative cooperation shall mean, inter alia:
a repeated failure to respect the obligations to verify the originating status of the product(s) concerned;
a repeated refusal or undue delay in carrying out and/or communicating the results of subsequent verification of the proof of origin;
a repeated refusal or undue delay in obtaining authorisation to conduct administrative cooperation missions to verify the authenticity of documents or accuracy of information relevant to the granting of the preferential treatment in question.
For the purpose of this Article a finding of irregularities or fraud may be made, inter alia, where there is a rapid increase, without satisfactory explanation, in imports of goods exceeding the usual level of production and export capacity of the other Party, that is linked to objective information concerning irregularities or fraud.
The application of a temporary suspension shall be subject to the following conditions:
The Party which has made a finding, on the basis of objective information, of a failure to provide administrative cooperation and/or of irregularities or fraud shall without undue delay notify the Stabilisation and Association Committee of its finding together with the objective information and enter into consultations within the Stabilisation and Association Committee, on the basis of all relevant information and objective findings, with a view to reaching a solution acceptable to both Parties.
Where the Parties have entered into consultations within the Stabilisation and Association Committee and have failed to agree on an acceptable solution within three months following the notification, the Party concerned may temporarily suspend the relevant preferential treatment of the product(s) concerned. A temporary suspension shall be notified to the Stabilisation and Association Committee without undue delay.
Temporary suspensions under this Article shall be limited to the extent necessary to protect the financial interests of the Party concerned. They shall not exceed a period of six months, which may be renewed. Temporary suspensions shall be notified immediately after their adoption to the Stabilisation and Association Committee. They shall be subject to periodic consultations within the Stabilisation and Association Committee in particular with a view to their termination as soon as the conditions for their application no longer exist.
Article 44
In case of error by the competent authorities in the proper management of the preferential system of export, and in particular in the application of the provisions of Protocol 4 concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, where this error leads to consequences in terms of import duties, the Party facing such consequences may request the Stabilisation and Association Council to examine the possibilities of adopting all appropriate measures with a view to resolving the situation.
Article 45
The application of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to the application of the provisions of Community law to the Canary Islands.
TITLE V
MOVEMENT OF WORKERS, ESTABLISHMENT, SUPPLY OF SERVICES, CURRENT PAYMENTS AND MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL
CHAPTER I
Movement of workers
Article 46
Subject to the conditions and modalities applicable in each Member State:
Article 47
Taking into account the labour market situation in the Member States, subject to their legislation and to compliance with the rules in force in the Member States in the area of mobility of workers:
Article 48
Rules shall be laid down for the coordination of social security systems for workers with Albanian nationality, legally employed in the territory of a Member State, and for the members of their families legally resident there. To that effect, a Decision of the Stabilisation and Association Council, which should not affect any rights or obligations arising from bilateral Agreements where the latter provide for more favourable treatment, shall put the following provisions in place:
CHAPTER II
Establishment
Article 49
For the purposes of this Agreement:
‘Community company’ or ‘Albanian company’ respectively shall mean a company set up in accordance with the laws of a Member State or of Albania respectively and having its registered office or central administration or principal place of business in the territory of the Community or Albania respectively.
However, should the company, set up in accordance with the laws of a Member State or of Albania respectively, have only its registered office in the territory of the Community or of Albania respectively, the company shall be considered a Community or an Albanian company respectively if its operations possess a real and continuous link with the economy of one of the Member States or of Albania respectively.
‘Subsidiary’ of a company shall mean a company which is effectively controlled by the first company.
‘Branch’ of a company shall mean a place of business not having legal personality which has the appearance of permanency, such as the extension of a parent body, has a management and is materially equipped to negotiate business with third parties so that the latter, although knowing that there will if necessary be a legal link with the parent body, the head office of which is abroad, do not have to deal directly with such parent body but may transact business at the place of business constituting the extension.
‘Establishment’ shall mean:
as regards nationals, the right to take up economic activities as self-employed persons, and to set up undertakings, in particular companies, which they effectively control. Self-employment and business undertakings by nationals shall not extend to seeking or taking employment in the labour market or confer a right of access to the labour market of another Party. The provisions of this Chapter do not apply to those who are not exclusively self-employed;
as regards Community or Albanian companies, the right to take up economic activities by means of the setting-up of subsidiaries and branches in Albania or in the Community respectively.
‘Operations’ shall mean the pursuit of economic activities.
‘Economic activities’ shall in principle include activities of an industrial, commercial and professional character and activities of craftsmen.
‘Community national’ and ‘Albanian national’ shall mean a natural person who is a national of one of the Member States or of Albania respectively.
With regard to international maritime transport, including intermodal operations involving a sea leg, nationals of the Member States or of Albania established outside the Community or Albania respectively, and shipping companies established outside the Community or Albania and controlled by nationals of a Member State or Albanian nationals respectively, shall also be beneficiaries of the provisions of this Chapter and Chapter III, if their vessels are registered in that Member State or in Albania respectively, in accordance with their respective legislation.
‘Financial services’ shall mean the activities as defined in Annex IV. The Stabilisation and Association Council may extend or modify the scope of that Annex.
Article 50
Albania shall facilitate the setting-up of operations on its territory by Community companies and nationals. To that end, it shall grant, upon the date of entry into force of this Agreement:
as regards the establishment of Community companies treatment no less favourable than that accorded to its own companies or to any third country company, whichever is the better; and
as regards the operation of subsidiaries and branches of Community companies in Albania, once established, treatment no less favourable than that accorded to its own companies and branches or to any subsidiary and branch of any third country company, whichever is the better.
The Community and its Member States shall grant, from the date of entry into force of this Agreement:
as regards the establishment of Albanian companies, treatment no less favourable than that accorded by Member States to their own companies or to any company of any third country, whichever is the better;
as regards the operation of subsidiaries and branches of Albanian companies, established in their territory, treatment no less favourable than that accorded by Member States to their own companies and branches, or to any subsidiary and branch of any third country company, established in their territory, whichever is the better.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article:
subsidiaries and branches of Community companies shall have, from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the right to use and rent real property in Albania;
subsidiaries and branches of Community companies shall also have the right to acquire and enjoy ownership rights over real property as Albanian companies and as regards public goods/goods of common interest, the same rights as enjoyed by Albanian companies, where these rights are necessary for the conduct of the economic activities for which they are established excluding natural resources, agricultural land, forests and forestry land. Seven years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement the Stabilisation and Association Council shall establish the modalities for extending rights under this paragraph to the excluded sectors.
Article 51
Article 52
Article 53
Article 54
In order to make it easier for Community nationals and Albanian nationals to take up and pursue regulated professional activities in Albania and the Community respectively, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall examine which steps are necessary for the mutual recognition of qualifications. It may take all necessary measures to that end.
Article 55
Key personnel of the abovementioned companies, herein referred to as ‘organisations’, are ‘intra-corporate transferees’ as defined in point (c) in the following categories, provided that the organisation is a legal person and that the persons concerned have been employed by it or have been partners in it (other than as majority shareholders), for at least the year immediately preceding such movement:
Persons working in a senior position with an organisation, who primarily direct the management of the establishment, receiving general supervision or direction principally from the board of directors or stockholders of the business or their equivalent including:
Persons working within an organisation who possess uncommon knowledge essential to the establishment’s service, research equipment, techniques or management. The assessment of such knowledge may reflect, apart from knowledge specific to the establishment, a high level of qualification referring to a type of work or trade requiring specific technical knowledge, including membership of an accredited profession.
An ‘intra-corporate transferee’ is defined as a natural person working within an organisation in the territory of a Party, and being temporarily transferred in the context of pursuit of economic activities in the territory of the other Party; the organisation concerned must have its principal place of business in the territory of a Party and the transfer be to an establishment (branch, subsidiary) of that organisation, effectively pursuing like economic activities in the territory of the other Party.
The entry into and the temporary presence within the territory of the Community or Albania of Albanian and Community nationals respectively shall be permitted, when these representatives of companies are persons working in a senior position, as defined in paragraph 2(a), within a company, and are responsible for the setting-up of a Community subsidiary or branch of an Albanian company or of an Albanian subsidiary or branch of a Community company in a Member State or in Albania respectively, when:
Article 56
During the first five years following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania may, on a transitional basis, introduce measures which derogate from the provisions of this Chapter as regards the establishment of Community companies and nationals of certain industries which:
Such measures:
shall cease to apply at the latest seven years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement;
shall be reasonable and necessary in order to remedy the situation; and
shall not introduce discrimination concerning the activities of Community companies or nationals already established in Albania at the time of introduction of a given measure, by comparison with Albanian companies or nationals.
While devising and applying such measures, Albania shall grant preferential treatment wherever possible to Community companies and nationals, and in no case treatment less favourable than that accorded to companies or nationals from any third country. Prior to the adoption of these measures, Albania shall consult the Stabilisation and Association Council and shall not put them into effect before a one-month period has elapsed following the notification to the Stabilisation and Association Council of the concrete measures to be introduced by Albania, except where the threat of irreparable damage requires the taking of urgent measures, in which case Albania shall consult the Stabilisation and Association Council immediately after their adoption.
Upon the expiry of the fifth year following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania may introduce or maintain such measures only with the authorisation of the Stabilisation and Association Council and under conditions determined by the latter.
CHAPTER III
Supply of services
Article 57
Article 58
Article 59
With regard to supply of transport services between the Community and Albania, the following provisions shall apply:
With regard to inland transport, Protocol 5 lays down the rules applicable to the relationship between the Parties in order to ensure, particularly, unrestricted road transit traffic across Albania and the Community as a whole, the effective application of the principle of non-discrimination and progressive harmonisation of the Albanian transport legislation with that of the Community.
With regard to international maritime transport, the Parties undertake to apply effectively the principle of unrestricted access to the market and traffic on a commercial basis, and to respect international and European obligations in the field of safety, security and environmental standards.
The Parties affirm their commitment to a freely competitive environment as an essential feature of international maritime transport.
In applying the principles of paragraph 2:
the Parties shall not introduce cargo-sharing clauses in future bilateral agreements with third countries;
the Parties shall abolish, upon the date of entry into force of this Agreement, all unilateral measures and administrative, technical and other obstacles that could have restrictive or discriminatory effects on the free supply of services in international maritime transport;
each Party shall grant, inter alia, no less favourable treatment for the ships operated by nationals or companies of the other Party than that accorded to a Party’s own ships with regard to access to ports open to international trade, the use of infrastructure and auxiliary maritime services of the ports, a well as related fees and charges, customs facilities and the assignment of berths and facilities for loading and unloading.
With a view to ensuring a coordinated development and progressive liberalisation of transport between the Parties adapted to their reciprocal commercial needs, the conditions of mutual market access in air transport shall be dealt with by special Agreements to be negotiated between the Parties.
Prior to the conclusion of the Agreements referred to in paragraph 4, the Parties shall not take any measures or actions which are more restrictive or discriminatory as compared with the situation existing prior to the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Albania shall adapt its legislation, including administrative, technical and other rules, to that of the Community existing at any time in the field of air, maritime and inland transport in so far as it serves liberalisation purposes and mutual access to markets of the Parties and facilitates the movement of passengers and of goods.
In step with the common progress in the achievement of the objectives of this Chapter, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall examine ways of creating the conditions necessary for improving freedom to provide air and inland transport services.
CHAPTER IV
Current payments and movement of capital
Article 60
The Parties undertake to authorise, in freely convertible currency, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of the Articles of the Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), any payments and transfers on the current account of balance of payments between the Community and Albania.
Article 61
As from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania shall authorise, by making full and expedient use of its legal framework and procedures, the acquisition of real estate in Albania by nationals of Member States of the European Union, except for the limitations provided for in Albania’s Schedule of Specific Commitment under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Within seven years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania shall progressively adjust its legislation concerning the acquisition of real estate in Albania by nationals of the Member States of the European Union to ensure no less favourable treatment than that accorded to Albanian nationals. Five years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall examine the modalities for the progressive elimination of such limitations.
The Parties shall also ensure, from the fifth year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, free movement of capital relating to portfolio investment and financial loans and credits with maturity shorter than a year.
Article 62
CHAPTER V
General provisions
Article 63
Article 64
For the purpose of this Title, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Parties from applying their laws and regulations regarding entry and stay, employment, working conditions, establishment of natural persons and supply of services, provided that, in so doing, they do not apply them in such a manner as to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to any Party under the terms of a specific provision of this Agreement. This provision shall be without prejudice to the application of Article 63.
Article 65
Companies which are controlled and exclusively owned jointly by Albanian companies or nationals and Community companies or nationals shall also be covered by the provisions of this Title.
Article 66
Article 67
Article 68
The provisions of this Title shall be progressively adjusted, notably in the light of requirements arising from Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
Article 69
The provisions of this Agreement shall not prejudice the application by either Party of any measure necessary to prevent the circumvention of its measures concerning third-country access to its market through the provisions of this Agreement.
TITLE VI
APPROXIMATION OF LAWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMPETITION RULES
Article 70
Approximation will be carried out on the basis of a programme to be agreed between the Commission of the European Communities and Albania.
Article 71
Competition and other economic provisions
The following shall be incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement, in so far as they may affect trade between the Community and Albania:
all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices between undertakings which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition;
abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the territories of the Community or of Albania as a whole or in a substantial part thereof;
any State aid which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or certain products.
Within five years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania shall submit to the Commission of the European Communities its GDP per capita figures harmonised at NUTS II level. The authority referred to in paragraph 4 and the Commission of the European Communities shall then jointly evaluate the eligibility of the regions of Albania as well as the maximum aid intensities in relation thereto in order to draw up the regional aid map on the basis of the relevant Community guidelines.
With regard to products referred to in Chapter II of Title IV:
Nothing in this Article shall prejudice or affect in any way the taking, by either Party, of antidumping or countervailing measures in accordance with the relevant Articles of GATT 1994 and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures or related internal legislation.
Article 72
Public undertakings
By the end of the third year following the date of entry into force of this Agreement, Albania shall apply to public undertakings and undertakings to which special and exclusive rights have been granted the principles set out in the Treaty establishing the European Community, with particular reference to Article 86 thereof.
Special rights of public undertakings during the transitional period shall not include the possibility of imposing quantitative restrictions or measures having an equivalent effect on imports from the Community into Albania.
Article 73
Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
Article 74
Public contracts
The above provisions shall also apply to contracts in the utilities sector once the Government of Albania has adopted the legislation introducing the Community rules in this area. The Community shall examine periodically whether Albania has indeed introduced such legislation.
Community companies established in Albania under the provisions of Chapter II of Title V shall have upon the date of entry into force of this Agreement access to contract award procedures under treatment no less favourable than that accorded to Albanian companies.
Article 75
Standardisation, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment
To this end, the Parties shall start at an early stage:
Article 76
Consumer protection
The Parties shall cooperate in order to align the standards of consumer protection in Albania to those of the Community. Effective consumer protection is necessary in order to ensure that the market economy functions properly, and this protection will depend on the development of an administrative infrastructure in order to ensure market surveillance and law enforcement in this field.
To that end, and in view of their common interests, the Parties shall encourage and ensure:
Article 77
Working conditions and equal opportunities
Albania shall progressively harmonise its legislation to that of the Community in the fields of working conditions, notably on health and safety at work, and equal opportunities.
TITLE VII
JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Article 78
Reinforcement of institutions and rule of law
In their cooperation on justice and home affairs the Parties shall attach particular importance to the consolidation of the rule of law, and the reinforcement of institutions at all levels in the areas of administration in general and law enforcement and the administration of justice in particular. Cooperation shall notably aim at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving its efficiency, improving the functioning of the police and other law enforcement bodies, providing adequate training and fighting corruption and organised crime.
Article 79
Protection of personal data
Albania shall harmonise its legislation concerning personal data protection with Community law and other European and international legislation on privacy upon the date of entry into force of this Agreement. Albania shall establish independent supervisory bodies with sufficient financial and human resources in order to efficiently monitor and guarantee the enforcement of national legislation on personal data protection. The Parties shall cooperate to achieve this goal.
CHAPTER II
Cooperation in the area of movement of persons
Article 80
Visa, border management, asylum and migration
The Parties shall cooperate in the areas of visa, border control, asylum and migration and shall set up a framework for cooperation, including at a regional level, in these fields, taking into account and making full use of other existing initiatives in this area as appropriate.
Cooperation in the matters referred to in paragraph 1 shall be based on mutual consultations and close coordination between the Parties and shall include technical and administrative assistance for:
Cooperation shall focus in particular:
Article 81
Prevention and control of illegal immigration, and readmission
The Parties shall cooperate in order to prevent and control illegal immigration. To this end, the Parties agree that, upon request and without further formalities, Albania and the Member States:
CHAPTER III
Cooperation on combating money laundering, terrorism financing, illicit drugs and cooperation in counter-terrorism
Article 82
Money laundering and terrorism financing
Article 83
Cooperation on illicit drugs
Article 84
Counter-terrorism
In compliance with the international Conventions to which they are party and their respective laws and regulations, the Parties agree to cooperate in order to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism and their financing, especially those involving cross-border activities:
CHAPTER IV
Cooperation in criminal matters
Article 85
Preventing and combating organised crime and other illegal activities
The Parties shall cooperate on fighting and preventing criminal and illegal activities, organised or otherwise, such as:
Regional cooperation and compliance with recognised international standards in combating organised crime shall be promoted.
TITLE VIII
COOPERATION POLICIES
Article 86
General provisions on cooperation policies
Article 87
Economic and trade policy
Article 88
Statistical cooperation
Cooperation between the Parties shall primarily focus on priority areas related to the Community acquis in the field of statistics. It shall notably be aimed at developing an efficient and sustainable statistical system capable of providing comparable, reliable, objective and accurate data needed to plan and monitor the process of transition and reform in Albania. It shall also enable the Institute of Statistics of Albania to better meet the needs of its national and international customers (both public administration and private sector). The statistical system shall respect the fundamental principles of statistics issued by the United Nations, the European Statistical Code of Practice and the stipulations of the European Statistical Law, and develop towards the Community acquis.
Article 89
Banking, insurance and other financial services
Cooperation between the Parties shall focus on priority areas related to the Community acquis in the fields of banking, insurance and financial services. The Parties shall cooperate with the aim of establishing and developing a suitable framework for the encouragement of the banking, insurance and financial services sectors in Albania.
Article 90
Audit and financial control cooperation
Cooperation between the Parties shall focus on priority areas related to the Community acquis in the field of public internal financial control (PIFC) and external audit. The Parties shall, in particular, cooperate with the aim of developing efficient PIFC and external audit systems in Albania, in accordance with internationally accepted standards and methodologies and EU best practices.
Article 91
Investment promotion and protection
Cooperation between the Parties, within the scope of their respective competences, in the field of investment promotion and protection shall aim to bring about a favourable climate for private investment, both domestic and foreign, which is so essential to economic and industrial revitalisation in Albania.
Article 92
Industrial cooperation
Article 93
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Cooperation between the Parties shall be aimed at developing and strengthening private sector small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and shall take due account of priority areas related to the Community acquis in the field of SMEs, as well as the principles enshrined in the European Charter for Small Enterprises.
Article 94
Tourism
Article 95
Agriculture and the agro-industrial sector
Cooperation between the Parties shall focus on priority areas related to the Community acquis in the field of agriculture. Cooperation shall notably aim at modernising and restructuring the Albanian agriculture and agro-industrial sector, and at supporting the gradual approximation of Albanian legislation and practices to the Community rules and standards.
Article 96
Fisheries
The Parties shall explore the possibility of identifying mutually beneficial areas of common interest in the fisheries sector. Cooperation shall take due account of priority areas related to the Community acquis in the field of fisheries, including the respect of international obligations concerning international and regional fisheries organisation rules of management and conservation of fishery resources.
Article 97
Customs
Article 98
Taxation
Article 99
Social cooperation
Article 100
Education and training
Article 101
Cultural cooperation
The Parties undertake to promote cultural cooperation. This cooperation serves, inter alia, to raise mutual understanding and esteem between individuals, communities and peoples. The Parties also undertake to cooperate to promote cultural diversity, notably within the framework of the Unesco Convention on the protection and the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.
Article 102
Cooperation in the audiovisual field
Article 103
Information society
Article 104
Electronic communications networks and services
Article 105
Information and communication
The Community and Albania shall take the measures necessary to stimulate the mutual exchange of information. Priority shall be given to programmes aimed at providing the general public with basic information about the Community and professional circles in Albania with more specialised information.
Article 106
Transport
Article 107
Energy
Cooperation shall focus on priority areas related to the Community acquis in the field of energy, including nuclear safety aspects as appropriate. It shall reflect the principles of the market economy and it shall be based on the signed regional Energy Community Treaty with a view to the gradual integration of Albania into Europe’s energy markets.
Article 108
Environment
Article 109
Cooperation in research and technological development
Article 110
Regional and local development
Article 111
Public administration
TITLE IX
FINANCIAL COOPERATION
Article 112
In order to achieve the objectives of this Agreement and in accordance with Articles 3, 113 and 115, Albania may receive financial assistance from the Community in the form of grants and loans, including loans from the European Investment Bank. Community aid remains tied to the fulfilment of the principles and conditions set out in the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 29 April 1997 taking into account the results of the annual reviews of the countries of the Stabilisation and Association process, the European Partnerships, and of other Council conclusions, pertaining in particular to the respect of adjustment programmes. Aid granted to Albania shall be geared to observed needs, chosen priorities, the capacity to absorb and repay, and the measures taken to reform and restructure the economy.
Article 113
Financial assistance, in the form of grants, shall be covered by the operation measures provided for in the relevant Council Regulation within a multiannual indicative framework established by the Community following consultations with Albania.
Financial assistance may cover all sectors of cooperation, paying particular attention to justice, liberty and security, approximation of legislation and economic development.
Article 114
At the request of Albania and in case of special need, the Community could examine in coordination with international financial institutions, the possibility of granting on an exceptional basis macro-financial assistance subject to certain conditions and taking into account the availability of all financial resources. This assistance would be released subject to the fulfilment of conditions to be established in the context of a programme agreed between Albania and the IMF.
Article 115
In order to permit optimum use of the resources available, the Parties shall ensure that Community contributions are made in close coordination with those from other sources such as the Member States, other countries and international financial institutions.
To this effect, information on all sources of assistance shall be exchanged regularly between the Parties.
TITLE X
INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 116
A Stabilisation and Association Council is hereby established. Its task shall be to supervise the application and implementation of this Agreement. It shall meet at an appropriate level at regular intervals and when circumstances require to examine any major issues arising within the framework of this Agreement and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest.
Article 117
Article 118
The Stabilisation and Association Council shall, for the purpose of attaining the objectives of this Agreement, have the power to take decisions within the scope of this Agreement in the cases provided for therein. The decisions taken shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken. The Stabilisation and Association Council may also make appropriate recommendations. It shall draw up its decisions and recommendations by agreement between the Parties.
Article 119
Each Party shall refer to the Stabilisation and Association Council any dispute relating to the application or interpretation of this Agreement. The Stabilisation and Association Council may settle the dispute by means of a binding decision.
Article 120
Article 121
The Stabilisation and Association Committee may create subcommittees.
Before the end of the first year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Committee shall set up the necessary subcommittees for the adequate implementation of this Agreement. When deciding on the setting-up of subcommittees and defining their terms of reference, the Stabilisation and Association Committee shall take due account of the importance of adequately handling migration-related issues, notably as regards the implementation of provisions under Articles 80 and 81 of this Agreement and the monitoring of the EU Action Plan for Albania and the neighbouring region.
Article 122
A Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for Members of the Albanian Parliament and the European Parliament to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals that it shall itself determine.
The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee shall consist of members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of members of the Parliament of Albania, on the other.
The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee shall establish its Rules of Procedure.
The Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee shall be chaired in turn by the European Parliament and the Parliament of Albania, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its Rules of Procedure.
Article 123
Within the scope of this Agreement, each Party undertakes to ensure that natural and legal persons of the other Party have access free of discrimination in relation to its own nationals to the competent courts and administrative organs of the Parties to defend their individual rights and their property rights.
Article 124
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Party from taking any measures:
which it considers necessary to prevent the disclosure of information contrary to its essential security interests;
which relate to the production of, or trade in, arms, munitions or war materials or to research, development or production indispensable for defence purposes, provided that such measures do not impair the conditions of competition in respect of products not intended for specifically military purposes;
which it considers essential to its own security in the event of serious internal disturbances affecting the maintenance of law and order, in time of war or serious international tension constituting threat of war or in order to carry out obligations it has accepted for the purpose of maintaining peace and international security.
Article 125
In the fields covered by this Agreement and without prejudice to any special provisions contained therein:
Article 126
Article 127
The Parties agree to consult promptly through appropriate channels at the request of either Party to discuss any matter concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement and other relevant aspects of the relations between the Parties.
The provisions of this Article shall in no way affect and are without prejudice to Articles 31, 37, 38, 39 and 43.
Article 128
This Agreement shall not, until equivalent rights for individuals and economic operators have been achieved under this Agreement, affect rights ensured to them through existing Agreements binding one or more Member States, on the one hand, and Albania, on the other.
Article 129
Annexes I to V and Protocols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall form an integral part of this Agreement.
The Framework Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania on the general principles for the participation the Republic of Albania in Community Programmes, signed on 22 November 2004, and the Annex thereto shall form an integral part of this Agreement. The review provided for in Article 8 of that Framework Agreement shall be carried out within the Stabilisation and Association Council, which shall have the power to amend, if necessary, the Framework Agreement.
Article 130
This Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period.
Either Party may denounce this Agreement by notifying the other Party. This Agreement shall terminate six months after the date of such notification.
Article 131
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term ‘Parties’ shall mean the Community, or its Member States, or the Community and its Member States, in accordance with their respective powers, of the one part, and Albania, of the other part.
Article 132
This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaties establishing the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community are applied and under the conditions laid down in those Treaties, and to the territory of Albania, on the other.
Article 133
The Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union shall be the depository of this Agreement.
Article 134
This Agreement is drawn up in duplicate in each of the official languages of the Parties, each of these texts being equally authentic ( 1 ).
Article 135
The Parties shall ratify or approve this Agreement in accordance with their own procedures.
The instruments of ratification or approval shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of the deposit of the last instrument of ratification or approval.
Article 136
Interim Agreement
In the event that, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement, the provisions of certain parts of this Agreement, in particular those relating to the free movement of goods as well as the relevant provisions on transport, are put into effect by means of Interim Agreements between the Community and Albania, the Parties agree that, in such circumstances for the purpose of the provisions of Title IV, Articles 40, 71, 72, 73 and 74 of this Agreement, Protocols 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, and relevant provisions of Protocol 5, hereto, the terms ‘date of entry into force of this Agreement’ mean the date of entry into force of the relevant Interim Agreement in relation to obligations contained in the abovementioned provisions.
Article 137
From the date of its entry into force, this Agreement shall replace the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Albania on trade and commercial and economic cooperation, signed at Brussels on 11 May 1992. This shall not affect any right, obligation or legal situation of the parties created through the execution of that Agreement.
Hecho en Luxemburgo, el doce de junio del dos mil seis.
V Lucemburku dne dvanáctého června dva tisíce šest.
Udfærdiget i Luxembourg den tolvte juni to tusind og seks.
Geschehen zu Luxemburg am zwölften Juni zweitausendsechs.
Kahe tuhande kuuenda aasta juunikuu kaheteistkümnendal päeval Luxembourgis.
Έγινε στο Λουξεμβούργο, στις δώδεκα Ιουνίου δύο χιλιάδες έξι.
Done at Luxembourg on the twelfth day of June in the year two thousand and six.
Fait à Luxembourg, le douze juin deux mille six.
Fatto a Lussemburgo, addì dodici giugno duemilase.
Luksemburgā, divtūkstoš sestā gada divpadsmitajā jūnijā.
Priimta du tūkstančiai šeštų metų birželio dvyliktą dieną Liuksemburge.
Kelt Luxembourgban, a kettőezer hatodik év június tizenkettedik napján.
Magħmul fil-Lussemburgu, fit-tnax jum ta’ Ġunju tas-sena elfejn u sitta.
Gedaan te Luxemburg, de twaalfde juni tweeduizend zes.
Sporządzono w Luksemburgu, dnia dwunastego czerwca roku dwutysięcznego szóstego.
Feito no Luxemburgo, em doze de Junho de dois mil e seis.
V Luxemburgu dňa dvanásteho júna dvetisícšesť.
V Luxembourgu, dvanajstega junija leta dva tisoč šest.
Tehty Luxemburgissa kahdentenatoista päivänä kesäkuuta vuonna kaksituhattakuusi.
Som skedde i Luxemburg den tolfte juni tjugohundrasex.
Bërë në Luksemburg në datë dymbëdhjetë qershor të vitit dymijë e gjashtë.
Pour le Royaume de Belgique
Voor het Koninkrijk België
Für das Königreich Belgien
Cette signature engage également la Communauté française, la Communauté flamande, la Communauté germanophone, la Région wallonne, la Région flamande et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.
Deze handtekening verbindt eveneens de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, de Franse Gemeenschap, de Duitstalige Gemeenschap, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest.
Diese Unterschrift bindet zugleich die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, die Flämische Gemeinschaft, die Französische Gemeinschaft, die Wallonische Region, die Flämische Region und die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt.
Za Českou republiku
På Kongeriget Danmarks vegne
Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Eesti Vabariigi nimel
Για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία
Por el Reino de España
Pour la République française
Thar cheann Na hÉireann
For Ireland
Per la Repubblica italiana
Για την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία