23.9.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L 240/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2007/2000 of 18 September 2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process, amending Regulation (EC) No 2820/98, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1763/1999 and (EC) No 6/2000 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: At its meeting in Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000, the European Council concluded that Stabilisation and Asso- ciation Agreements with Western Balkan countries should be preceded by asymmetrical trade liberalisation. The Council, in its conclusions of 24 January and 14 February 2000, also invited the Commission to examine the question of facilitating trade with the Republic of Montenegro within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2000 of 17 December 1999 concerning the arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and to imports of wine originating in the former Yugo- slav Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slov- enia () offers for certain industrial products exemption from customs duties within the limit of tariff ceilings and limited concessions are made for agricultural goods, many of them in form of exemption from duties within the limit of tariff quotas. Council Regulation (EC) No 1763/1999 of 29 July 1999 concerning arrangements applicable to imports into the Community of products originating in Albania provides for a similar regime containing the same restrictions and amending Regula- tion (EC) No 2820/98 applying a multilateral scheme of () O] L 2, 5.1.2000, p. 1. generalised tariff preferences for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2001 as regards Albania (%). The general level of imports from the Western Balkan countries is less than 0,6 % of all Community imports. Further market opening is expected to contribute to the process of political and economic stabilisation in the region while not creating negative effects for the Community. It is, therefore, appropriate to further improve the Community's autonomous trade preferences by removing all remaining tariff ceilings for industrial prod- ucts and by further improving access to the Community market for agricultural and fishery products, including processed products. These measures are proposed as part of the EU Stabilisa- tion and Association process, in a response to the specific situation in the Western Balkans. They will not constitute a precedent for Community trade policy with other third countries. In accordance with the EU Stabilisation and Association process, based on the earlier Regional Approach and the Council Conclusions of 29 April 1997, the development of bilateral relations between the European Union and the Western Balkan countries is subject to certain condi- tions. The granting of autonomous trade preferences is linked to respect for fundamental principles of democ- racy and human rights and to the readiness of the countries concerned to develop economic relations between themselves. The granting of improved auto- nomous trade preferences in favour of countries partici- pating in the EU Stabilisation and Association process should be linked to their readiness to engage in effective economic reforms and in regional cooperation, in partic- ular through the establishment of free trade areas in line with relevant GATT/WTO standards. In addition, entitle- ment to benefit from autonomous trade preferences is conditional on the beneficiaries' involvement in effective administrative cooperation with the Community in order to prevent any risk of fraud. () Oj L 211, 11.8.1999, p. 1.