On 25 February 2013, the Federal Republic of Somalia presented a request for observership and subsequent accession in accordance with Article 94 of the ACP-EU Agreement.

An observer may reapply once for observer status.

Notes that in all international conferences the Commission is to grant observer status to Members of Parliament and facilitate their presence in all relevant meetings, in particular coordination meetings, where the Commission is required to inform Parliament about its position in the negotiating process; notes that only in exceptional cases, on the basis of a lack of legal, technical or diplomatic possibilities, may the Commission refuse the grant of observer status to Members of Parliament, but considers that these concepts should be explained beforehand to Parliament and interpreted very stric ...[+++]tly by the Commission;

At present seven EU Member States have observer status with BSEC.[11] Responding to BSEC’s initiative, the Commission intends to also seek observer status and to support EU Member States’ application for observer status.

At present seven EU Member States have observer status with BSEC.[11] Responding to BSEC’s initiative, the Commission intends to also seek observer status and to support EU Member States’ application for observer status.

The observer status of the European Economic Community (precursor to the European Community) in the UN was initially granted in 1974, at a time when the EEC was almost alone in having permanent observer status (there are now 41).