In some circumstances, trade negotiations with a trading partner have been concluded, but they have not yet been signed or ratified. This means that the negotiations are over, but no part of the agreement is yet in force. During a transitional period, the SAAs established a free trade area that expired for all but Kosovo* (2026). The agreements provide for the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff restrictions on bilateral trade and apply to goods in all chapters of the Harmonized System. Few exceptions for certain agricultural and fishery products are not fully liberalised and are subject to reduced duties and/or preferential quantitative concessions. The Parties recognize that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent. In Chapter 6, they reaffirm their commitment to multilateral environmental and labour agreements and principles and commit to maintaining the level of protection, while recognizing the right of each party to establish its own level of environmental and labour protection. The accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union is the stated objective of the current relations between the two entities. Since the decision of the Thessaloniki European Council in 2003, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been recognised by the EU as a “potential candidate for accession” and is currently on the agenda of future EU enlargement. Bosnia and Herzegovina participates in the Stabilisation and Association Process and trade relations are governed by an Interim Agreement. Since then, a number of agreements between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina have entered into force – Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements (2008), Interim Agreements on Trade and Trade-Bound Measures (2008). The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) was ratified and entered into force on 1 June 2015.
(7) However, Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet agreed to adapt the trade concessions granted under the Interim Agreement to take account of traditional preferential trade between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). If, pending the adoption of this Regulation, the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not signed and provisionally applied an agreement on the adaptation of the accompanying concessions provided for in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement, the preferences granted to Bosnia and Herzegovina should be applied from 1 January 2016. . .