Customs unions, free trade areas, cross-border arrangements
Article 39
1. This Agreement shall not preclude the maintenance or establishment of customs unions, free trade areas or arrangements for frontier trade except in so far as they alter the trade arrangements provided for in this Agreement. 2. During the transitional period specified in Article 18, this Agreement shall not affect the implementation of the specific preferential arrangements governing the movement of goods either laid down in frontier Agreements previously concluded between one or more Member States and Serbia or resulting from the bilateral Agreements specified in Title III concluded by Serbia in order to promote regional trade. 3. Consultations between the Parties shall take place within the Stabilisation and Association Council concerning the Agreements described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article and, where requested, on other major issues related to their respective trade policies towards third countries. In particular in the event of a third country acceding to the Union, such consultations shall take place so as to ensure that account is taken of the mutual interests of the Community and Serbia stated in this Agreement.