Brussels, 22/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 22 February, the European Commission presented a draft regulation that would extend the exceptional autonomous trade preferences for the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the customs territory of Kosovo, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) until 31 December 2015. The current preferences regime for the Western Balkans, which was established in 2000 and which guarantees duty-free access to the Community market for almost all their produce, was extended in 2005, but is due to expire on 31 December 2010. The aim of this latest extension of the regime is twofold: - it would allow all the Western Balkans countries to continue to enjoy a preferential regime which brings them more than what was provided for under stabilisation and association agreements (SAA) and interim agreements concluded with all the countries of the region with the exception of Kosovo; - it would allow the customs territory of Kosovo to enjoy the current duty free-quota free regime for virtually all its exported produce (apart from veal, fish and wine, which are subject to quotas). The draft regulation will be examined under the co-decision procedure by the Council and European Parliament, with a view to its coming into effect on 1 January 2011. (E.H./transl.rt)