Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Croatia

4. If problems in the area of intellectual, industrial and commercial property affecting
trading conditions occur, they shall be referred urgently to the Stabilisation and
Association Council, at the request of either Party, with a view to reaching mutually
satisfactory solutions.
Article 72
Public contracts
1. The Parties consider the opening-up of the award of public contracts on the basis of
non-discrimination and reciprocity, in particular in the WTO context, to be a
desirable objective.
2. Croatian companies, whether established or not in the Community, shall be granted
access to contract award procedures in the Community pursuant to Community
procurement rules under treatment no less favourable than that accorded to
Community companies as from the entry into force of this Agreement.
The above provisions will also apply to contracts in the utilities sector once the
government of Croatia has adopted the legislation introducing the Community rules
in this area. The Community shall examine periodically whether Croatia has indeed
introduced such legislation.
Community companies not established in Croatia shall be granted access to contract
award procedures in Croatia pursuant to the Law on Public Procurement under
treatment no less favourable than that accorded to Croatian companies at the latest
three years after the entry into force of this Agreement. Community companies
established in Croatia under the provisions of Chapter II of Title V shall have upon
entry into force of this Agreement access to contract award procedures under
treatment no less favourable than that accorded to Croatian companies.
The Stabilisation and Association Council shall periodically examine the possibility
for Croatia to introduce access to award procedures in Croatia for all Community
companies.
3. As regards establishment, operations, supply of services between the Community and
Croatia, and also employment and movement of labour linked to the fulfilment of
public contracts, the provisions of Articles 45 to 68 are applicable.
Article 73
Standardisation, Metrology, Accreditation and Conformity Assessment
1. Croatia shall take the necessary measures in order to gradually achieve conformity
with Community technical regulations and European standardisation, metrology,
accreditation and conformity assessment procedures.
2. To this end, the Parties shall start at an early stage to:
– promote the use of Community technical regulations and European standards,
tests and conformity assessment procedures;
– conclude, where appropriate, European Conformity Assessment Protocols;
– foster the development of the quality infrastructure: standardisation, metrology,
accreditation and conformity assessment;
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