15.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 328/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1215/2009 of 30 November 2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union’s Stabilisation and Association process (codified version) 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: 1) 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 (1), has been substantially amended several times (). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified. At its meeting in Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000, the European Council concluded that Stabilisation and Association Agreements with Western Balkan countries should be preceded by asymmetrical trade liberalisation. A continued Community market opening to imports from the Western Balkan countries 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 further to improve the Community’s autonomous trade preferences by removing all remaining tariff ceilings for industrial products and by further improving access to the Community market for agricultural and fishery products, including processed products. () O] L 240, 23.9.2000, p. 1. (3) See Annex IIL ©) These measures are proposed as part of the EU Stabili- sation 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 conditions. The granting of autonomous trade pref- erences is linked to respect for fundamental principles of democracy and human rights and to the readiness of the countries concerned to develop economic relations between themselves. The granting of improved autonomous trade preferences in favour of countries participating in the EU Stabilisation and Association process should be linked to their readiness to engage in effective economic reforms and in regional coop- eration, in particular through the establishment of free trade areas in accordance with relevant GATT/WTO standards. In addition, entitlement to benefit from autonomous trade preferences is conditional on the involvement of the beneficiaries in effective adminis- trative cooperation with the Community in order to prevent any risk of fraud. Trade preferences can only be granted to countries or territories possessing a customs administration. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo, as defined by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) subject to international civil administration by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (hereinafter referred to as Kosovo), fulfil these conditions, and similar trade preferences should be granted to all of them in order to avoid discrimination within the region.