. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/L/380
13 December 2000
(00-5405)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY PREFERENCES FOR ALBANIA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA,
CROATIA, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA,
AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Request for a Waiver for the Application of the EU
Autonomous Preferential Treatment to the
Countries of the Western Balkans
Decision of 8 December 20001
The General Council,
Taking note  of the request of the European Community for a waiver from its obligations
under paragraph 1 of Article I of the GATT 1994 to the extent necessary to permit the European
Community to afford duty-free or preferential trea tment to eligible products originating in Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, without being required to extend the same duty-free or preferential treatment to like
products of any other member:
Taking account  of the 1979 Decision of Differential and More Favourable Treatment,
Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries and the 1994 Decision on Measures in
favour of Least-Developed Countries;
Considering  the exceptional situation in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the efforts being madeby the members to provide for the preservation of peace and for economic reconstruction;
Considering  that the duty-free and preferential treatment to eligible products the European
Community affords to these countries is intended to promote economic expansion and recovery in a
manner consistent with the objectives of the GATT 1994 and not to create barriers for the trade ofother members;
Noting  that Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have yet to accede to the WTO; Members, acting
pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement;
Decides as follows:
1. Subject to the conditions set out in the Decision, the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article I of
the GATT 1994 shall be waived until 31 December 2006 to the extent necessary to permit theEuropean Community to afford duty-free or preferen tial treatment to eligible products originating in
Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federa l Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav
                                                     
1 Adopted in accordance with the Decision-Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO
Agreement agreed by the General Council (WT/L/93).WT/L/380
Page 2
Republic of Macedonia, without being require to extend the same duty-free or preferential treatment
to like products of any other member.
2. Such duty-free or preferential treatment shall not raise new barriers for the trade of other
members.  The European Community shall consult promptly with any member on the operation of its
preferential or duty-free concessions in respect of the countries listed in paragraph 1 of this Decision,or on any other matter arising in respect of this Decision.  Where a member considers that its benefits
under the GATT 1994 are or may be impaired unduly as a result of measures put in place by the
European Community and covered by this Decision, the EC shall examine the possibility of a
satisfactory adjustment of the matter.  This Decision does not affect members’ rights as set out in the
Understanding in respect of Waivers of Obligations under the GATT 1994.
3. The European Community shall report annually to the General Council on the preferences and
duty-free treatment afforded to products from the countries listed in paragraph 1, including the extentto which such preferences and duty-free treatment is different from the Community’s MFN and GSP
concessions, with a view to facilitating the annual review provided for in paragraph 4 of Article IX of
the WTO Agreement.
4. Accession to the WTO by Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will not affect the application of thisDecision.
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