31/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Stabilisation and Association Agreement comes into force on 1 April. A European source told this newsletter on Thursday 31 Mach that the Association and Stabilisation Agreement (ASA) between the EU and Kosovo will come into force on Friday 1 April, as reported by Balkans media on 30 March quoting the Kosovan government. The agreement boosts political dialogue between the EU and Kosovo, encourages trade relations and closer cooperation in many domains, such as energy, the environment, justice and home affairs. Negotiated between October 2013 (see EUROPE 10952) and May 2014 (see EUROPE 11071), the ASA was initialled in July 2015 and signed on 27 October (see EUROPE 11419). Kosovo's national assembly ratified the agreement on 2 November 2015 and the European Parliament gave its assent on 21 January 2016 (see EUROPE 11473). (CG)