(1)

On 26 February 1996 the Council adopted Common Position 96/184/CFSP (1) concerning arms exports to the former Yugoslavia, which has been amended several times. Consequently, the arms embargo imposed in 1996 applies only to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(2)

Developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina has now adopted, and is implementing, legislation on exports, imports and transit of arms which meets the appropriate EU standards, justify a lifting of the restrictive measures taken against that State pursuant to Common Position 96/184/CFSP.

(3)

Furthermore, on 21 November 2005, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

(4)

Common Position 96/184/CFSP should therefore be repealed, on the understanding that the Member States rigorously apply the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports adopted on 8 June 1998, and, as regards exports to the former Yugoslavia, take into account the objectives of the EU policy in the region, which is aimed fundamentally at pacification and stabilisation in the area, including the need for arms control, reduction of arms to the lowest possible level and confidence-building measures,