Brussels, 23/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU signed an Enlargement Protocol to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the Croatian government on 21 December. The SAA will enter into force on 1 February 2005. The initial SAA was signed on 29 October 2001, and a provisional trade agreement has been in force since 1 March 2002. The SAA covers areas such as: political dialogue; regional cooperation; the four freedoms, with the creation of a free trade area by 2007; approximation of Croatian legislation to the Community acquis, including precise rules in the fields of competition, intellectual property rights and public procurement; and wide-ranging cooperation in all areas of Community policies, including in the area of justice and home affairs. The full implementation of the SAA will help Croatia in its preparations for EU-membership.