L 80/46 Official Journal of the European Union 19.3.2008 COUNCIL DECISION of 18 February 2008 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Serbia including Kosovo as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999 and repealing Decision 2006/56/EC (2008/213EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, 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: () ) The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 endorsed the introduction of the European Partner- ships as a means to materialise the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. 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 associa- tion process, notably by the annual progress reports. On 30 January 2006 the Council adopted the second European Partnership with Serbia including Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 (). 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). Council Decision 2006/56/EC of 30 January 2006 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Serbia and Montenegro including Kosovo as defined by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999 and repealing Decision 2004/520/EC (O] L 35, 7.2.2006, p. 32). Decision as amended by Decision 2007/49/EC (O] L 20, 27.1.2007, p. 16). 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. On 17 July 2006 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 (°), establishing an Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance (IPA) which renews the framework for financial assistance to pre-accession countries. 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 Reports on the preparations by Serbia as well as Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 for further integration with the European Union. In order to prepare for further integration with the European Union, the competent authorities in Serbia as well as Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 should develop a plan with a timetable and specific measures to address the priorities of this European Partnership. Decision 2006/56/EC should therefore be repealed, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 The principles, priorities and conditions in the European Partnership with Serbia including Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 are set out in Annexes 2 and 3. ¢) OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 82.