08/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, without debate, the Council of Ministers adopted a regulation modifying Regulation 2007/2000 on the EU's system of trade preferences for the countries and territories covered by the stabilisation and association process for the Western Balkans, in order to take into account the entry into force of the interim agreement with Albania signed in December 2006. The SAA, for which ratification has yet to be concluded, and the interim agreement establish a contractual trade regime between the Community and Albania. In concrete terms, the regulation adopted on Tuesday removes Albania from the list of countries that benefit from EU tariff concessions granted for the same products that are now covered by the interim agreement and soon by the SAA. The regulation also covers modifications to the tariff quotas for certain products from Albania. Albania, on the other hand, will continue to benefit from trade preferences granted under regulation 2007/2000 each time the regulation provides for concessions which are more favourable than the concessions existing under the contractual regime. (hb)