Article 53
1. Serbia shall facilitate the setting-up of operations on its territory by Community companies and nationals. To that end, Serbia shall grant, upon entry into force of this Agreement: (a) as regards the establishment of Community companies on the territory of Serbia, treatment no less favourable than that accorded to its own companies or to any third country company, whichever is the better; (b) as regards the operation of subsidiaries and branches of Community companies on the territory of Serbia once established, treatment no less favourable than that accorded to its own companies and branches or to any subsidiary and branch of any third country company, whichever is the better. 2. The Community and its Member States shall grant, from the entry into force of this Agreement: (a) as regards the establishment of Serbian companies treatment no less favourable than that accorded by Member States to their own companies or to any company of any third country, whichever is the better; (b) as regards the operation of subsidiaries and branches of Serbian companies, established in its territory, treatment no less favourable than that accorded by Member States to their own companies and branches, or to any subsidiary and branch of any third country company, established in their territory, whichever is the better. 3. The Parties shall not adopt any new regulations or measures which introduce discrimination as regards the establishment of any other Party’s companies on their territory or in respect of their operation, once established, by comparison with their own companies. 4. Four years after the entry into force of this Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall establish the detailed arrangements to extend the above provisions to the establishment of Community nationals and nationals of Serbia to take up economic activities as self-employed persons. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article: (a) Subsidiaries and branches of Community companies shall have, from the entry into force of this Agreement, the right to use and rent real property in Serbia; (b) Subsidiaries of Community companies shall, from the entry into force of this Agreement, have the right to acquire and enjoy ownership rights over real property as Serbian companies and as regards public goods/goods of common interest, the same rights as enjoyed by Serbian companies respectively where these rights are necessary for the conduct of the economic activities for which they are established. (c) Four years after the entry into force of this Agreement, the Stabilisation and Association Council shall examine the possibility of extending the rights mentioned under point (b) to branches of the Community companies.