
Sole Article 
The position to be adopted by the European Union in the EU-the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council on the participation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an observer in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights' work and the respective modalities thereof shall be based on the draft Decision of the EU-the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council attached to this Decision.
Done at Brussels, 15 January 2016.
For the Council
The President
J.R.V.A. DIJSSELBLOEM
Article 1 
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as a candidate country, shall participate as an observer in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights set up by Regulation (EC) No 168/2007.
Article 2 

1. The Agency may deal with fundamental rights issues within the scope of Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the extent necessary for its gradual alignment to Union law.
2. To that end, the Agency will be able to carry out, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the tasks set out in Articles 4 and 5 of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007.
Article 3 
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall contribute financially to the activities of the Agency referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
Article 4 

1. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall appoint persons complying with the criteria set out in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 as observer and alternate observer. They may participate in the works of the Management Board on an equal footing with the members and alternate members appointed by Member States, but without a right to vote.
2. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall nominate a government official as a National Liaison Officer, as referred to in Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007.
3. Within four months of the entry into force of this Decision, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall inform the European Commission of the names, qualifications and contact details of the persons referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Article 5 
The data supplied to or emanating from the Agency may be published and shall be made accessible to the public, provided that confidential information is afforded the same degree of protection in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as it is afforded within the Union.
Article 6 
The Agency shall enjoy in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the same capacity as that accorded to legal entities under the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's law.
Article 7 
To enable the Agency and its staff to perform their tasks, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia shall grant the privileges and immunities identical to those set out in Articles 1 to 4, 5, 6, 10 to 13, 15, 17 and 18 of Protocol No 7 on the privileges and immunities of the European Union, attached to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Article 8 
The Parties shall each take any general or specific measures required to fulfil their obligations under this Decision and shall notify them to the Stabilisation and Association Council.
Article 9 
This Decision shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of its adoption.
Done at …,
For the Stabilisation and Association Council
The President
ANNEX
1. The financial contribution to be paid by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the general budget of the European Union to participate in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (the ‘Agency’), as laid down in point 2, represents the full cost of its participation therein.

2. 

Year 1: EUR 165 000
Year 2: EUR 170 000
Year 3: EUR 175 000

3. The possible financial support from Union assistance programmes will be agreed separately according to the relevant Union programme.

4. The contribution of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be managed in accordance with the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Union.

5. Travel costs and subsistence costs incurred by representatives and experts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for the purposes of participating in the Agency's work or in meetings related to the implementation of the Agency's work program shall be reimbursed by the Agency on the same basis as, and in accordance with, the procedures currently in force for the Member States of the Union.

6. After the entry into force of this Decision and at the beginning of each following year, the Commission will send to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia a call for funds corresponding to its contribution to the Agency under this Decision. For the first calendar year of its participation, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will pay a contribution calculated from the date of participation to the end of the year on a pro rata basis. For the following years, the contribution will be in accordance with this Decision.

7. This contribution shall be expressed in EUR and paid into a EUR bank account of the Commission.

8. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will pay its contribution according to the call for funds, for its own part, at the latest within a period of 30 days after the call for funds is sent by the Commission.

9. Any delay in the payment of the contribution shall give rise to the payment of interest by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on the outstanding amount as from the due date. The interest rate corresponds to the rate applied by the European Central Bank, on the due date, for its operations in EUR, increased by 1,5 percentage points.
