               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.9.2017
            COM(2017) 472 final
            Recommendation for a
            COUNCIL DECISION
            authorising the opening of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Australia
            {SWD(2017) 292}{SWD(2017) 293}

               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

               1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

               ·Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

               The European Union (EU) has excellent political relations and mature trade and investment relations with Australia based on shared values of democracy and human rights. Australia has concluded numerous free trade agreements (FTA) with other countries. The EU does not have a bilateral FTA with Australia and that leaves the EU businesses with comparably less favourable conditions to access the Australian market.

               The Joint Statement of 22 April 2015
                  1
                by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission (HRVP) and the Australian Foreign Minister highlighted the need to further strengthen the bilateral trade and investment relationship. This was followed by the Joint Statement of 15 November 2015
                  2
                by the leaders of the EU and Australia agreeing to commence work toward the launch of negotiations for an FTA.

                  The main reason for the proposal is to create more favourable conditions for further increasing trade and investment between the EU and Australia. The general objectives of this proposal include:

               ·promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth through the expansion of trade;

               ·creating job and labour opportunities and welfare gains;

               ·increasing benefits to consumer;

               ·improving Europe’s competitiveness in global markets; and

               ·strengthening cooperation on trade-related issues with a like-minded partner.

                  This is in line with the Commission's Communication ‘Trade for All - Towards a More Effective, Transparent and Responsible Trade and Investment Policy’
                     3
                  . The Communication highlights the need to move forward our bilateral relationships in order to deliver jobs and growth by tackling trade and investment barriers in a comprehensive way. At the same time, there is also a need to secure the EU's high level of social and environmental protection and contribute to other trade-related policy objectives, including sustainable development and the special needs of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME).

                  In particular, the 'Trade for All' Communication highlighted that "Australia and New Zealand are Europe’s close partners, share Europe’s values and views on many issues, and play an important role in the Asia-Pacific region and in multilateral settings. Stronger economic ties with these countries will also provide a solid platform for deeper integration with wider Asia-Pacific value chains. Strengthening these relationships should be a priority."

                  Furthermore, the objectives are in line with the Council conclusions on trade of 21 November 2014
                     4
                   which underlined that trade in goods, services and investment can make a significant contribution to achieve the aims at the core of the ‘Strategic Agenda for the Union in times of change’. The conclusions also stated that building on the tangible progress made in the EU's bilateral trade agenda, efforts should be devoted to pursuing agreements with key partners. Similarly, this objective is also in line with the Council conclusion on trade and investment of 27 November 2015
                     5
                   that supported the conclusion of ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial bilateral trade and investment agreements and calls on the Commission to advance negotiations in the Asia-Pacific region.

               ·Consistency with existing provisions in the policy area

               The objectives described above are fully consistent with the Treaty on European Union (TEU) which enshrines that the EU should encourage the integration of all countries into the world economy, including through the progressive abolition of restrictions on international trade
                  6
               .

               These objectives are also in line with the Communication 'Europe 2020 – A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth'
                  7
                which sets out that the European trade strategy will include "proposals for high-level strategic dialogues with key partners, to discuss strategic issues ranging from market access, regulatory framework, global imbalances, energy and climate change, access to raw materials, to global poverty, education and development".

               The objectives are furthermore fully consistent with the objectives set out by the European Commission's Communication ‘Small Business Act for Europe’
                  8
                (2008) and ‘Small Business, Big World’
                  9
                (2011). Supporting SME's economic activities outside the EU is also embedded in the Union's overall competitiveness strategy as outlined in the Communication 'For a European Industrial Renaissance'
                  10
                (2014).

               The objectives also comply with the principles established in the TEU stipulating that the EU's policies and actions should aim to consolidate and support human rights
                  11
                and to "help develop international measures to preserve and improve the quality of the environment and the sustainable management of global natural resources"
                  12
               .

               The objectives are consistent with other EU policies and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

               Finally, the objectives are consistent with the Juncker Commission’s priority to get Europe growing again and to increase the number of jobs without creating new debt, the 'Investment Plan' (or 'European Fund for Strategic Investments')
                  13
                as well as the specific priorities set out by the Commission Work Programme 2017
                  14
               .

               This recommendation concerns an agreement which would cover liberalisation of trade in goods, services, public procurement and foreign direct investment, together with flanking rules dealing, for example, with intellectual property rights.

               ·Consistency with other Union policies

               Description of the issue of consistency with existing provisions in the policy area is found in the section above on 'Consistency with existing provisions in the policy area'.

               2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

               ·Legal basis

               Article 218(3) and (4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

               ·Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

               According to Article 5(3) of the TEU, the subsidiarity principle does not apply in areas of exclusive EU competence. The common commercial policy is listed among the areas of exclusive competence of the Union in Article 3 of the TFEU. This policy includes the negotiation of trade agreements pursuant to, inter alia, Article 207 TFEU.

               ·Proportionality

               In line with the principle of proportionality, all reasonable policy options were considered in order to assess the likely effectiveness of such policy interventions, as described in detail in the Impact Assessment Report.

               ·Choice of the instrument

                  Decision of the Council of the European Union.

               3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

               ·Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

                  Not applicable.

               ·Stakeholder consultations

               The Commission actively engaged with interested partners and conducted a comprehensive online public consultation
                  15
                to gather detailed views relating to the future trade and economic relationship between the EU and Australia
                  16
               .

               The online public consultation was open from 11 March to 3 June 2016. It was launched on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade and was posted on ‘EU Survey’ (the Commission's on-line public consultations portal). Interested parties from within and outside the EU were invited to answer questions covering a wide range of themes on trade and investment between the EU and Australia.

               The Commission received 108 replies from a wide range of respondents. A summary of the responses is included in the Impact Assessment Report and the individual responses were published unless the respondent has indicated otherwise.

               ·Collection and use of expertise

                  An external consultant was commissioned to carry out an ex-ante analysis on the potential impacts of envisaged scenarios for the FTA.

                  The Commission has also been in contact with various interested parties who provided their views on specific market access and other trade barriers they face in their trade and investment relationship with Australia.

               ·Impact assessments

                  Though the scope of the impact assessment, covering trade, investment and other issues, was broader than the present Recommendation, its conclusions remain valid with respect to this Recommendation.

                  The Impact Assessment Report and its acompanying executive summary and the positive opinion with reservations of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board will be made public.

                  In addition to the impact assessment, the potential economic, social, human rights and environmental impacts of the FTA will be examined in an independent Sustainability Impact Assessment, which will be carried out by external consultants. The Sustainability Impact Assessment will be carried out in parallel with the FTA negotiations and will rely on a wide-ranging consultation of interested parties, notably civil society. The Sustainability Impact Assessment will be finalised ahead of the initialling of the FTA and its findings will feed into the negotiating process.

               ·Regulatory fitness and simplification

                  SMEs should benefit from new business opportunities and see savings under the FTA due to liberalisation, enhanced legal framework, improved customs procedures, and increased regulatory transparency. The Impact Assessment Report contains detailed information on the potential impacts on stakeholders and economic sectors.

               ·Fundamental rights

                  The Impact Assessment Report addresses the issues of fundamental rights under social, environmental and human rights aspects.

                  The FTA should contain a chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development in line with established EU policy.

               4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

                  The FTA will have limited negative impact on the budget of the EU in the form of customs duties due to tariff liberalisation. Indirect positive impacts are expected in terms of increases in resources linked to value added tax and gross national income.

               5.OTHER ELEMENTS

               ·Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

                  In line with the commitment made in the 2015 'Trade for All' Communication, there will be an in-depth ex-post evaluation of the effects of the FTA to be concluded with Australia when it will have been in force for sufficient time to ensure availability of meaningful data. The Impact Assessment Report contains detailed information on the envisaged monitoring and evaluation arrangements.

               ·Explanatory documents (for directives)

                  Not applicable.

                  •
                        Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

               Not applicable.

               ·Procedural aspects

               The Commission will negotiate for the EU.

               In accordance with Article 218(4) TFEU, it is suggested that the Council of the European Union designates the Trade Policy Committee as the committee in consultation with which the negotiations must be conducted.

               The European Parliament will be informed at all stages of the procedure, in line with Article 218(10) TFEU.

               The Commission welcomes the fact that the Members of the Council of the European Union are increasingly engaging at an early stage with their parliaments on trade negotiations in line with their institutional practices. It encourages the Members of the Council of the European Union to do the same with regard to this Recommendation for a Council decision having due regard to Council Decision 2013/488/EU on the security rules for protecting EU classified information
                  17
               .

               The Commission will inform Australia of the EU's internal rules on transparency and access by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to negotiating documents.

               The Commission makes this Recommendation and its Attachment public immediately after its adoption.

               The Commission recommends that the negotiating directives be made public immediately after their adoption.

               Recommendation for a

               COUNCIL DECISION

               authorising the opening of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Australia

               THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

               Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218(3) and (4) thereof,

               Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,

               WHEREAS negotiations should be opened with a view to concluding a Free Trade Agreement with Australia,

               HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

               Article 1

               The Commission is authorised to negotiate on behalf of the Union a Free Trade Agreement with Australia.

               Article 2

               The negotiating directives are set out in the Attachment.

               Article 3

               The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the Trade Policy Committee.

               Article 4

               This Decision and its attachment will be made public immediately after their adoption.

               Article 5

               This Decision is addressed to the Commission.

               Done at Brussels,

                     For the Council

                     The President

                     (1)

                  http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150422_04_en.htm

                     (2)

                  http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-6088_en.htm

                     (3)

                  http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2015/october/tradoc_153846.pdf

                     (4)

                  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/145908.pdf

                     (5)
                  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2015/11/st14688_en15_pdf/

                     (6)
                  Article 21 para 2 (e) TEU.

                     (7)

                  http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/pdf/COMPLET%20EN%20BARROSO%20%20%20007%20-%20Europe%202020%20-%20EN%20version.pdf

                     (8)
                  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52008DC0394

                     (9)
                  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0702

                     (10)
                  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52014DC0014

                     (11)
                  Article 21 para 2 (b) TEU.

                     (12)
                  Article 21 para 2 (f) TEU.

                     (13)

                  http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/jobs-growth-investment/plan/index_en.htm

                     (14)
                  https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/work-programme-commission-key-documents-2017_en

                     (15)
                  http://trade.ec.europa.eu/consultations/index.cfm?consul_id=195

                     (16)
                  The public online consultation also covered the future trade and economic relationship between the EU and New Zealand

                     (17)

                  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013D0488

    ---documentbreak---

               EUROPEAN COMMISSION
            Brussels, 13.9.2017
            COM(2017) 472 final
            ANNEX
            to the
            Recommendation for a Council Decision
            authorising the opening of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Australia
            {SWD(2017) 292}{SWD(2017) 293}

               ATTACHMENT

               NEGOTIATING DIRECTIVES FOR A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIA

               A.
                     NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT

               The Agreement should exclusively contain provisions on trade and foreign direct investment related areas applicable between the parties.

               The Agreement should be ambitious, comprehensive and fully consistent with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and obligations. The negotiations should be conducted and concluded taking into account commitments under the WTO. The Agreement should have a high level of ambition going beyond existing WTO commitments.

               The Agreement should provide for the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in goods, services and foreign direct investment. It will include rules on other trade-related areas in order to promote, facilitate or govern such trade and foreign direct investment. All commitments under the Agreement are undertaken with a view to have a direct and immediate effect on trade and, where relevant, within the scope of common EU rules.

               The Agreement should include obligations in areas falling under the competence of all applicable authorities and entities of both parties to the Agreement.

               B.
                     PROPOSED CONTENT OF THE AGREEMENT

               Preamble, General Principles

               The preamble should recall that the partnership with Australia is based on common principles and values as reflected in the EU-Australia Framework Agreement. The Agreement should form part of the overarching political relationship and institutional framework set out in the Framework Agreement
                  1
               .

               In view of liberalising bilateral trade and foreign direct investment, the Agreement should also refer, inter alia, to:

               ·The principles and objectives of the EU's external action;

               ·The commitment of the parties to sustainable development and the contribution of international trade to sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions, including economic development, poverty reduction, full and productive employment and decent work for all, the protection and preservation of the environment and natural resources;

               ·The commitment of the parties to fully comply with their rights and obligations arising from WTO membership;

               ·The commitment of the parties to enhance consumer welfare through policies ensuring a high level of consumer protection and economic well-being;

               ·The right to regulate economic activity in the public interest, to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social or consumer protection, privacy and data protection and the promotion and protection of cultural diversity;

               ·The objective that the Agreement should create a new framework for economic relations between the parties and above all for the development of trade and foreign direct investment;

               ·The shared objective of the parties of taking into account the particular challenges faced by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in contributing to the development of trade and foreign direct investment;

               ·The commitment of the parties to communicate with all relevant interested parties including the private sector and civil society organisations/representatives.

               Objectives

               The Agreement should confirm the joint objective of progressively and reciprocally liberalising substantially all trade in goods and services and foreign direct investment, in full compliance with WTO rules, notably Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

               The Agreement should ensure a high level of market access for public procurement, and trade-related intellectual property rights (IPR), including geographical indications and strengthen dialogue and cooperation on technical and regulatory frameworks.

               The Agreement should recognise that sustainable development is an overarching objective of the parties and should ensure and facilitate respect of international environmental and social agreements and standards in order to promote trade. Sustainable development should be taken into account throughout the agreement covering both social and environmental issues. The Agreement should ensure that the parties should not encourage trade or foreign direct investment by lowering domestic environmental, labour or occupational health and safety legislation, and standards or by relaxing core labour standards or laws aimed at protecting and promoting cultural diversity.

               Trade in Goods

               Duties on imports and exports and non-tariff measures

               The aim of the Agreement is to ensure the highest possible degree of trade liberalisation. The Agreement should cover substantially all trade in goods between the parties. Tariffs on most lines should be eliminated on the entry into force of the Agreement. The aim of the Agreement should be to dismantle import duties and charges having an equivalent effect on both sides, as a general rule not more than seven years. Exceptions should be kept to a minimum and specific provisions should cover the most sensitive products. For instance some agricultural products for which tariff rate quotas, longer transitional periods or other arrangements should be considered.

               Negotiations on tariff reduction should take place on the basis of the duties applied by the EU erga omnes on the date of launch of the negotiations and of the duties applied by Australia erga omnes on the date of launch of the negotiations.

               All customs duties or taxes on exports or any measures of equivalent effect should be prohibited and no new ones should be introduced.

               Rules of origin

               Rules of origin and provisions providing for administrative co-operation should be trade facilitating and simpler and should take into account the standard preferential rules of origin of the EU and the interests of EU producers.

               Anti-fraud measures

               A clause in the Agreement on enhanced administrative co-operation should set out the procedures and appropriate measures that the parties may take where a lack of administrative co-operation in customs matters, irregularities or fraud are established.

               Management of administrative errors

               Provisions should also be included to examine jointly the possibility of adopting appropriate measures in case of errors committed by the competent authorities in the application of the preferential rules of origin.

               Customs and trade facilitation

               The Agreement should include provisions to facilitate trade between the parties, while ensuring effective controls. To this end the Agreement should include commitments on rules, requirements, formalities and procedures of the parties related to import, export and transit.

               The Agreement should promote the effective implementation and application of international rules and standards in the field of customs and other trade-related procedures, including WTO provisions, WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and World Customs Organisation instruments and the revised Kyoto Convention.

               The Agreement should include provisions to promote exchange of best practice and experience, relating to particular areas of mutual interest. These areas may include issues such as the modernisation and simplification of rules and procedures, standardised documentation, tariff classification, transparency, mutual recognition and inter-agency co-operation.

               The Agreement should promote convergence in trade facilitation, building on relevant international standards and instruments as appropriate.

               The Agreement should promote effective and efficient IPR enforcement by customs authorities on all goods under customs control.

               The Agreement should take account, in the provisions on trade facilitation, of the challenges faced by SMEs while ensuring a level playing field for all economic operators.

               The Agreement should aim to establish a Protocol on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, covering assistance with customs anti-fraud investigations (including assistance on request, spontaneous assistance and confidentiality).

               Non-tariff barriers

               The Agreement should address trade related regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers (NTBs). The Agreement should therefor prohibit any ban, restriction or other NTBs to trade, which is not justified by the general exceptions set out below, and which could amount to a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the parties. Priority should be given to provisions and procedures that should be included to ensure the elimination of unjustified non-tariff obstacles to trade. The Agreement should also envisage appropriate procedures to prevent NTBs and other unnecessary obstacles to trade. The Agreement should also address localisation requirements.

               Product-specific NTBs should be solved on a request and offer basis, in parallel with exchanges on tariff concessions. Given the relevance of furthering the objectives of the Agreement and to improve market access at a level greater than that delivered through horizontal rules, the Agreement should include sector specific commitments on NTBs.

               The Agreement should include provisions on state trading enterprises, assessing any possible distortion to competition and barriers to trade that this could create.

               Technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures

               Apart from confirming the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, the parties should also establish provisions that build on and complement such provisions in order to facilitate access to each other's markets.

               The Agreement should contain a number of general principles (such as proportionality, no undue restrictions, transparency, non-discrimination) and provisions that build on and complement WTO rules. Among other things, the aims should include increasing transparency, promoting good regulatory practice, adopting relevant international standards, seeking the compatibility and convergence of technical regulations on the basis of international standards, streamlining testing and certification requirements through, for example, the application of a risk-based approach to conformity assessment (including the application of self-certification in sectors where this is possible and appropriate) and provisions aiming at the compatibility of testing requirements in a number of priority sectors and promoting the use of accreditation.

               The Agreement should contain provisions that aim at improving the dissemination of information to importers and exporters.

               The negotiations should address the relationship between the Agreement and the existing Mutual Recognition Agreement with a view to improving its implementation and providing for more efficient cooperation.

               Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures

               The parties should build on and go beyond the WTO Agreement on SPS measures, with the objective of facilitating access to each Party’s market while protecting human, animal or plant life and health. The SPS chapter should cover issues such as transparency, proportionality, undue delays, harmonisation, the recognition of equivalence and alternative measures, regionalisation, control, inspection and approval procedures, audits, import checks, emergency measures, approval of establishments without prior inspection, pursuing the application of EU-wide authorisation processes (single entity), regulatory cooperation, improved cooperation on antimicrobial resistance, and the creation of a mechanism to address expeditiously specific trade concerns related to SPS measures.

               The negotiations should follow the provisions of the negotiating directives adopted by the Council on 20 February 1995 (Council document 4976/95).

               Animal welfare

               The Agreement should promote continued cooperation and exchanges on animal welfare, to discuss, inter alia, possible commitments on equivalence on animal welfare between the parties.

               Safeguards

               The Agreement should include a clause on safeguard measures providing that either party may take appropriate measures in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article XIX GATT 1994 or the WTO Agreement on Safeguards. The Agreement should also provide that such safeguard measures should have the least distorting effect on bilateral trade.

               To maximise commitments towards liberalisation and in order to ensure any necessary protection, taking into account specificities of sensitive sectors, the Agreement should in principle contain a bilateral safeguard clause by which either party may remove, in part or in full, preferences where a rise in imports of a product from the other party is causing or threatening to cause serious injury to its domestic industry.

               Anti-dumping and countervailing measures

               The Agreement should include a clause on anti-dumping and countervailing measures providing that either party may take appropriate measures against dumping and/or countervailable subsidies in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI GATT 1994 or the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. The Agreement should also integrate commitments that go beyond WTO rules in this area in line with EU rules and previous agreements.

               The Agreement should recognise that green box payments are not trade distortive and should therefore, in principle not be targeted by anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures.

               Trade in Services, Foreign Direct Investment and Digital Trade

               In line with Article V GATS, the Agreement should have substantial sectorial coverage and should cover all modes of supply. The Agreement should have no a priori exclusion from its scope other than the exclusion of audio-visual services and services supplied and activities performed in the exercise of governmental authority. The negotiations should aim at the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in services and foreign direct investment by eliminating restrictions to market access and national treatment, beyond the Parties’ WTO commitments and offers submitted in the context of the negotiations of the Trade in Services Agreement. The Agreement should include rules concerning performance requirements related to foreign direct investment.

               Furthermore, the Agreement should contain regulatory disciplines. To that end, the negotiations should cover matters such as:

               ·Regulatory provisions on transparency and mutual recognition;

               ·Horizontal provisions on domestic regulation, such as those ensuring impartiality and due process with regard to licensing and qualification requirements and procedures; and

               ·Regulatory provisions for specific sectors including telecommunication services, financial services, delivery services and international maritime transport services.

               In the context of the increasing digitalisation of trade, the negotiations should result in rules covering digital trade and cross-border data flows, electronic trust and authentication services, unsolicited direct marketing communications, and addressing unjustified data localisation requirements, while neither negotiating nor affecting the EU’s personal data protection rules.

               The Agreement may include procedural commitments for the entry and stay of natural persons for business purposes pursuant to the Parties' commitments in Mode 4. However, nothing in the Agreement should prevent the Parties from applying their national laws, regulations and requirements regarding entry and stay, provided that, in doing so, they do not nullify or impair the benefits accruing from the Agreement. The laws, regulations and requirements existing in the EU regarding working conditions and labour rights should continue to apply.

               The Agreement should reaffirm the right to regulate economic activity in the public interest, to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social or consumer protection, privacy and data protection and the promotion and protection of cultural diversity. The high quality of the EU’s public services should be preserved in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and in particular Protocol No 26 on Services of General Interest, and taking into account the EU’s reservations in this area, including GATS.

               Capital Movement and Payments

               The Agreement should aim for the removal of restrictions to current payments and capital movements related to transactions liberalised under this Agreement, and include a standstill clause. It should include safeguard and carve-out provisions (e.g. concerning the Union's economic and monetary union and balance of payments), which should be in accordance with the provisions of the TFEU on the free movement of capital.

               Intellectual Property Rights

               The Agreement should complement and build upon the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), aiming at ensuring an adequate and effective level of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

               The IPR chapter should cover topics, such as copyright and related rights, trademarks, designs, patents, plant variety rights, undisclosed information including trade secrets, geographical indications (GIs) and enhanced enforcement. The Agreement should seek to improve the effectiveness of enforcement of IPR, including in the digital environment and at the border (including on exports).

               The Agreement should set up appropriate cooperation mechanisms between the Parties to support the implementation of the IPR chapter, as well as a regular dialogue on intellectual property to promote exchange of information on respective legislative progress, exchange of experience on enforcement and consultation in relation to third countries.

               Geographical Indications

               The Agreement should provide direct protection through the agreement of a list of GIs (wines, spirits, agricultural products and foodstuffs), at a high level of protection building upon Article 23 TRIPs, including evocation, enhanced enforcement, co-existence with "bona fide" prior trademarks, protection against subsequent genericness and the possibility to add new GIs. Issues concerning individual prior rights, for example related to plant varieties, trademarks, generic or other legitimate prior uses, should be addressed. In addition, the negotiations will include arrangements regarding protection of GIs in third country markets.

               The negotiations should address the relationship between the Agreement and the existing EU-Australia Wine Agreement.

               Public Procurement

               The Agreement should aim at comprehensive and improved access to public procurement markets taking into account developments in Australia's accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). This should include comprehensive and mutually acceptable coverage of procurement at all levels of government, state owned enterprises and undertakings with special or exclusive rights, and procurement of goods, services and public works. In doing so, the parties recognise the particularities and the sensitivities of their respective procurement environments. The Agreement should also consider covering commitments for public private partnerships / concessions in line with respective legislation in this area. The parties recognise the importance of the principle of national treatment in order to ensure treatment no less favourable than that accorded to locally-established suppliers or service providers.

               Procedural commitments should be based on the rules, procedures and requirements established under the WTO GPA. In particular, commitments should ensure due process (such as including effective review mechanisms) and transparency in covered procurement. Specific language on transparency should be considered in order to ensure clarity on applicable procurement rules and on available procurement opportunities in order to provide businesses with easily available information.

               Trade and Competition

               The Agreement should include provisions on competition addressing competition rules and their enforcement.

               The Agreement should contain provisions on subsidies. Furthermore, it should also address State-Owned Enterprises, designated monopolies and enterprises granted special rights or privileges.

               Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

               The Agreement should include a specific SME chapter. The Agreement should assist SMEs to take full advantage of the trade opportunities provided by the Agreement, including through information sharing arrangements on market access requirements and an appropriate institutional set-up.

               Trade and Sustainable Development

               The Agreement should include provisions on labour and environmental aspects of trade and sustainable development of relevance in a trade and foreign direct investment context. It should include provisions that promote adherence to and effective implementation of relevant internationally agreed principles and rules, including the core labour standards and fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and multilateral environmental agreements including those related to climate change.

               The Agreement should reaffirm the right of the parties to regulate in the labour and environmental areas, consistent with their international commitments, and in pursuit of high levels of protection. It should include provisions for labour and environmental levels of protection not to be lowered in order to encourage trade and foreign direct investment. This should include a commitment not to derogate from or fail to enforce domestic labour or environmental laws.

               The Agreement should promote a greater contribution of trade and foreign direct investment to sustainable development, including by addressing areas such as the facilitation of trade in environmental and climate-friendly goods and services and the promotion of voluntary sustainability assurance schemes and of corporate social responsibility, having regard to internationally recognised instruments.

               The Agreement should also contain commitments promoting trade in legally obtained and sustainably managed natural resources, in particular in relation to biodiversity, wildlife, forestry products, fisheries and cover relevant international instruments and practices. It should also promote trade favouring low-emission, climate resilient development.

               The Agreement should foresee suitable provisions for the effective implementation and monitoring of these provisions, as well as procedures to address any disputes arising between the Parties, and should provide for civil society participation.

               Energy and Raw Materials

               The Agreement should include provisions addressing trade and foreign direct investment-related aspects of energy and raw materials. The Agreement should aim at ensuring an open, transparent, non-discriminatory and predictable business environment and at limiting anti-competitive practices in this area. The Agreement should also include rules that support and further promote trade and foreign direct investment in the renewable energy sector. The Agreement should also enhance cooperation in the abovementioned areas.

               Transparency of Regulations

               The Agreement should include provisions regarding:

               ·Publication, including making measures of general application publicly available, in a non-discriminatory manner and with reasonable time for comments on proposals for measures of general application.

               ·Enquiries and contact points, with mechanisms to respond to enquiries from interested parties regarding measures proposed or in force.

               ·Administrative proceedings based on and in accordance with law which ensure that information on the operation of measures of general application is available to interested persons and reasonable opportunity is afforded for those affected by a proceeding to present views prior to any final administrative action.

               ·Appropriate opportunities to review and appeal an administrative action in areas covered by the Agreement.

               ·Promotion of quality regulation and good administrative practice.

               Regulatory cooperation

               The Agreement should include cross-cutting disciplines on regulatory coherence and transparency for the development, adoption and implementation of efficient, cost-effective, and more compatible regulations so as to facilitate trade. The Agreement should include provisions on the promotion of information exchange, the enhanced use of good regulatory practices, and enhanced regulatory cooperation.

               To this end, consideration should be given to the inclusion of provisions on regulatory cooperation in certain specific areas not covered in the current framework, and to mechanisms for identifying potential obstacles to be addressed through regulatory cooperation.

               Institutional and final provisions

               A clear legal and institutional link should be established between the Agreement and the Framework Agreement. This should ensure external coherence in particular in respect of the existence, application, suspension and termination of the respective provisions.

               The Agreement should set up a specific overarching body to monitor the implementation of the Agreement. Committees or working groups on specific areas may be established as appropriate and should operate under the framework of the overarching body.

               Dispute Settlement and Mediation

               The Agreement should include an effective and binding dispute settlement mechanism with an expedited procedure, in particular for the panel composition and the conduct of panel proceedings. The dispute settlement mechanism should be transparent, open and innovative. It should include provisions for a flexible and rapid mediation mechanism.

               General exceptions

               The Agreement should include general exceptions, applicable to the relevant parts of the Agreement, including regarding security, balance of payments, prudential supervision and taxation.

               Authentic languages

               The Agreement, which should be equally authentic in all official EU languages, should include a language clause to that effect.

               Other issues

               The Agreement should recognise the importance of consumer protection issues and support effective consumer protection, including in a digital environment.

               Following analysis by the Commission and prior consultation with the Trade Policy Committee and in accordance with EU Treaties, the Agreement may include additional provisions related to the trade and economic relationship where, in the course of negotiations, mutual interest was expressed in doing so.

                     (1)

                  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52016JC0051


RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION CONCERNING THE CONCLUSION OF A PROTOCOL TO THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC CONSEQUENT ON THE ACCESSION OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL TO THE COMMUNITY


title: RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON THE CONCLUSION OF A PROTOCOL ON FINANCIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL

text:
N o C 135/12                          Official Journal of the European Communities                                    25. 5. 91
           Recommendation for a Council Decision on the conclusion of a Protocol on financial
                  cooperation between the European Economic Community and the State of Israel
                                                        (91/C 135/05)
                                                     COM(91) 814 final
                                      (Submitted by the Commission on 6 May 1991)
           THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
           Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in
           particular Article 238 thereof,
           Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission,
           Having regard to the assent of the European Parliament,
           Whereas the Protocol on financial cooperation between the European Economic Community
           and the State of Israel should be approved,
           HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
                                                           Article 1
           The Protocol on financial cooperation between the European Economic Community and the
           State of Israel is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.
           The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.
                                                           Article 2
           The President of the Council shall give the notification provided for in Article 13 of the
           Protocol (1).
                                                           Article 3
           This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official
           Journal of the European Communities.
           (') The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European
               Communities by the General Secretariat of the Council.


title: RECOMMANDATION D'UNE DECISION DU CONSEIL PORTANT ACCEPTATION AU NOM DE LA COMMUNAUTE D'UNE ANNEXE A LA CONVENTION INTERNATIONALE POUR LA SIMPLIFICATION ET L'HARMONISATION DES REGIMES DOUANIERS (COM(79) 563 final) ANNEXE B 3 (présentée par la Commission au Conseil)#RECOMMANDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY AN ANNEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE SIMPLICATION AND HARMONIZATION OF CUSTOMS PROCEDURES (COM(79) 563 final) ANNEX B 3 (presented by the Commission to the Council)

text:
ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (80) 17
Vol. 1980/0009
 ---pagebreak--- Disclaimer
Conformément au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983,
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit
règlement.
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic
Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243,
27.9.2003, p. 1), this file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom 1.
Februar 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI. L 43 vom 15.2.1983,
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. September 2003
(ABI. L 243 vom 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.
 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION DES COMMUNAUTES EUROPEENNES
                                                    COM(80)17 final
                                tBruxel es, le 29 janvier 1980
                                                 ,
                                                 ; V.··
                                                 Av
                      RECOMMANDATION D' UNE DECISION DU CONSEIL
            PORTANT ACCEPTATION AU NOM DE LA COMMUNAUTE D' UNE ANNEXE
           A LA CONVENTION INTERNATIONALE POUR LA SIMPLIFICATION ET
          L' HARMONISATION DES REGIMES DOUANIERS        ( COM(79 ) 563 final )
                                ANNEXE         B 3
                                   i
                     (présentée par la Commission au Conseil )
                      RECOMMANDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
              ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY AN ANNEX TO THE
      INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE SIMPLICATION AND HARMONIZATION
                   OF CUSTOMS PROCEDURES ( COM(79 ) 563 final )
                                 ANNEX        B 3
                 (presented by the Commission to the Council )
 C0M(80 ) 17 final
 ---pagebreak--- .y Λ
                        ΑΝΝΙ.ΧΚ Β . 3 .                                        ANNF.X B. 3 .
                            Annexe                                                Annex
         concernant la rcimportatibn en l'état              concerning reimportation in the same state
                          Introduction                                          Introduction
           Il arrive souvent que des marchandises                 Goods arc often .^imported into the
    soient reimportées dans le pays d'où elles ont          country whence they were exported in the
    ete exportées dans l'état ou elles ont quitte ce        same state as they were before exportation . In
    pays . Dans de nombreux cas , cette réimporta          many cases, this reimportation was foreseeable
    tion et.ut prévisible àu moment de l 'exporta          at the timcof exportation , in which case the
    tion «.les marchandises qui a pu alors être éven       goods may have been exported with
    tuellement effectuée avec reserve de retour.            notification of intended return . However, in
    Dans un certain nombre de cas cependant, la             certain- peases, goods are reimportcd owing to
    reimportation est motivée par 3es circonstan           circumstances       which      arise after  their
    ces qui; surviennent après l 'exportation des         . exportation .
    marchandises .                 *
            L.a législation nationale de la plupart                The national legislation of most States
 filles I i.its contient des dispositions qui permet        includes provisions enabling such reimportcd
    tent d' accorder aux marchandises, ainsi réim           goods to enter free of import duties and taxes
    portées une franchise (.les droits et taxes à            and provides tor the repayment of any export
    l' importation ainsi que le remboursement des            duties and taxes paid on exportation . The
    droits e : taxes a l'exportation éventuellement-         Customs procedure which provides for such
    perçus lors de l'exportation . Le régime doua           duty-free importation and repayment is that
    nier qui prévoir cette franchise et ce irem-             of reimportation in the same state. This
     isourseinent- est celui de la réimportation en          procedure is granted subject to the condition
     ' eut . i.e bénéfice de ce régime est subor-            that the identity of the . goods can be
 - donne a ia condition -que la reconnaissance de            established . -Any sums chargeable as a result
     i'ivientitc des marchandises puisse ctre assurée.      of repayment or remission of or conditional
     Les sommes exigibles en raison d' un rcm"bour-          relief from duties and taxes or of any subsidies
     sement . d 'une remise ou d' une suspension des         or other amounts granted at exportation, must
    droits et raxes ou de toute subvention ou autre          be paid.
     montant accordé au moment de l'exportation ,
    doivent être acquittées.
            La présenté annexe ne s'applique pas à la              This Annex docs not apply to the
     reimportation des effets personnels des voya           reimportation of travellers' personal effects
     geurs et des moyens de transport a usage privé.         or of means of transport for private use.
                            Definition *       --                                 Definitions
            Pour l'application de la présente annexe,              For the purposes of this Annex :
     on entend ;        - .
     (a ) par •• réimportation en l'état •• : le régime   . ( a) the term " reimportation in the same
           -douanier qui permet de mettre à ia con                state "" means the Customs procedure
            sommation en franchise des droits et                   under which goods which were exported
            taxes à l' importation , des marchandises .            and were in free circulation or were
            qui ont ete exportées alors qu'elles se                compensating products may be taken into
            trouvaient en libre circulation ou consti             home use free of import duties and raxes,
            tuaient des produits compensateurs, à               - provided that they have not undergone
            condition qu'elles n'aient subi à l'étran - '          any manufacturing, processing or repairs
 ---pagebreak---       ger aucune transformation , ouvraison ou                abroad . Any sums chargeable as a result
      rcj^jr.i : :v»n . Les sommes exigibles en rai          of repayment or remission of or
      son d' un remboursement , d' une remise ou              conditional relief from duties and taxes or
      d' une suspension «.'.es droits et , taxes ou           of any subsidies or other amounts granted
      de toute suinention ou autre montant                    at exportation , must be paid ;
      accorde au moment de l'exportation , doi
      vent être acquittées ;
( b) par ■< mise à la consommation » : le ré-          ( b) the term " clearance for home vise "
      gwie douanier qui permet aux marchan                   means the Customs procedure which
      dises importées de demeurer a titre                     provides that imported goods may remain
      deîimtif dans le territoire douanier.'' Ce              permanently in the Customs territory .
      ro;ime implique l'acquittement des droits               This procedure implies the payment of
      et taxes a l' importation éventuellement                any import duties and taxes chargeable
      exigibles et l' accomplissement île toutes              and the accomplishment of all the
      les formalités de douane nécessaires ;                   necessary Customs formalities ;
(c)   par - droits et taxes à l' iirtportation » :      (c)    the term " import duties and taxes "
      l«.s droits de douane et tous autres droits,             means the Customs Juries and all other
      taxes et redevances ou impositions diver                duties , taxes , fees or other charges which
      ses qui sont perçus a l' importation ou à                are collected on or in connexion with the
      l'occasion de l' importation des marchan                importation of goods, but not including /*^
      dises, a l'exception des redevances et                   tees and charges which are limited in ^
      impositions dont le montant est limite au                amount to the approximate cost of
      coût approximatif des services rendus ;                  services rendered ;
(d ) par •• droits et taxes à l'exportation >• :•        (d )  the term " export duties and taxes
      les tiroirs de douane et tous autres droits ,            means .Customs duties aiui ail other
      taxes et rede\ances ou impositions diver                duties, taxes, fees or other charges which
      ses qui sont perdus a l'exportation ou à                 are collected on or in connexion with the
      l'occasion de l' exportation vies marchan               exportation of goods, but not including
      dises , a 1 exception des redevances et                   fees and charges which arc limited in
       impositions dont le montant est limité au               amount to the approximate cost of
      cour approximatif des services rendus;                   services rendered ;
(e) par •• marchandises exportées avec réserve           (e) the       term     " goods     exported   with
       de retour •• : ies marchandises qui sont                notification of intended return " means
      désignées par le déclarant comme «.levant                goods specified by the declarant as
      être réimportées et a l'égard desquelles                 intended for reimportation , in respect of
      des mesures d' identification peuvent être               which identification measures may be
       prises par la douane , en vue de faciliter              taken by the Customs to facilitate Q
       leur réimportation en l'état;                           reimportation in the same state ;
       Note                                                    Note
             l es marchandises exportées avec ré                    Goods exported with notification of
       serve de retour peuvent être considérées                intended return may be regarded as
       comme étant placées sous un régime                      placed under a Customs procedure
       douanier qui est connu sous les termes                  described as " temporary exportation ";
       d' « exportation temporaire
 ( f)  par •< marchandises en libre circulation » :      ( f)  the term " goods in free circulation "
       les marchandises dont il peut être dispose              means goods which may be disposed of
       sans restrictions du point de vue de la                 without Customs restriction ;
       douane ;                                       »•
 (g) par •• produits compensateurs » : les pro         ( g). the term u compensating products '
       duits obtenus au cours ou a la suiie.de la              means the products obtained during or
                                                  – 36 –
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                ï■ p
         transformation , tic l'ouvraison ou Je la             as a     result of the manufacturing,
         réparation Jes marchandises remues en                 processing or repair of the goods
         admission temporaire pour perfectionne               temporarily      admitted      for   inward
         ment actif ;                                          processing ;
  ( h ) par « déclaration de marchandises » :          (h ) the term " Goods declaration " means a
         l'acte tait dans la forme prescrire par la            statement made in the form prescribed
         douane par lequel les intéresses indiquent            by the Customs, by which the persons
         le régime douanier à assigner aux mar                interested indicate the Customs procedure
         chandises et communiquent les éléments                to be applied , to the goods and furnish
         dont la douane exige la déclaration pour              the particulars which the Customs require
         l'application de ce régime ;                          to be declared for the application of that
                                                               procedure ;
  ( ij ) par •• personne « : aussi bien une per-       ( ij } the term " person " means both natural
         sonne physique qu' une personne morale,              .and legal persons, unless the context
         à moins que le contexte n'en dispose au              otherwise requires.
         trement.                         «
                         Principes                                            Principles
  1.                                          Norme    1.                                         Standard
O
         La réimportation en l'état est régie par              Reimportation in the sarnie state shall he
   es dispositions de la présenté annexe.              governed by the provisions of this Annex.
  2.                                          Norme    2.                                         Standard
         La législation nationale précise les con             National legislation shall " specify the
  ditions ainsi que les formalités de douane qui       conditions to be fulfilled and the Customs
  doivent être remplies pour bénéficier de la          formalities        to    be     accomplished        for
  réimportation en l'état.                             reimportation in the same state.
  Note                                                 Note
         La réimportation en l'état est subordon              Reimportation in rhe same state is subject
  née a -la coiuiiîion.qu'il soit établi à la. satis  to identification of the goods as the exported
  faction des autorités douanières, que les mar       goods to the satisfaction of the Customs
  chandises réimportées sont celles-là mêmes           authorities.
  qui ont été exportées.
O
                   Dispositions centrales                                  General provisions
  3.                                        . Norme    3.                                         Standard
         La réimportation en l'erar est accordée               Reimportation in the same state shall be
  même si une partie seulement des marchan            allowed even if only a part of the exported
  dises exportées est réimportée.                      goods is reimported .                        •
  4.                          Pratique recommandée     4.                          Recommeitded Practice
         Lorsque les circonstances le justifient, la           When • circumstances            so     justify,
  réimportation en l'état devrait être accordée        reimportation in the same state should be
  même s; les marchandises sont réimportées par        rrllowed even if the goods are reimported by a
  une personne autre que celle qui les avait           person other than the person who exported
, c\pôrcees                                            them .
                                                  – 37 –
                                                                                Λ
 ---pagebreak--- 5.                                                  Nonne        5.                                        'Standard
       La réimportation en l'état n'est pas refu                         Reimportation in the same state shall not
sée pour la raison que les marchandises ont                       he refused on the grounds that the goods have
été utilisées, endommagées ou deteriorees                         been used or damaged , or have deteriorated
pendant leur séjour à l'étranger.                                 during their stav abroad.
6.                                                   N orme       6.                                         Standard
        La réimportation on l'état n'est pas refu                        Reimportation in the same state shall not
sée pour la raison que les marchandises ont                        be refused on the grounds that , during their
subi pendant leur séjour à l'étranger, des opé                    stay abroad , the goods have undergone
rations nécessaires a leur maintien en bon état                    operations necessary for their preservation or
de conservation ou à leur entretien , a condi                     maintenance provided, however, that their
tion toutefois que leur valeur ne soit pas deve                   value at the time of exportation has not been
nue , d «; fait de ces opérations,- supérieure à                   enhanced by such operations.
celle qu'elles avaient au moment de leur expor
tation .                                  "
7.                                                   Norme         7.                                        Standard
         La réimportation en l'état n'est pas réser                      Reimportation in the same state shall nou
vée à des marchandises qui sont importées                          be limited to goods imported directly froi.'w
directement de l'étranger, mais elle est égale                    abroad but shall also be authorized for goods
ment accordée a des marchandises qui .se trou                     which are under another Customs procedure.
vent sous un autre régime douanier.
S.                            Ptjtiijiic recoHtm.unlcc             8.                       Kcconvuonicd Practice
         Les prohibitions et restrictions de carac                       Economic prohibitions and restrictions on
 tère économique prévues a l' importation ne                       importation'shotiM not be applied to goods
devraient pas être appliquées aux marchan                          reimported in the same state which were in
dises réimportées en i'etat qui étaient en libre                   free circulation when exported.
circulation lorsqu'elles ont ete exportées.
                              Pratique recommandée                 9.                       Recommendcd Practice
         La reimportation en l'étar ne devrait pas                        Reimportation in the same state should
être rcfusce pour la raison que ies marchan                       not be refused on the grounds , of the country
dises ont une provenance déterminée.                               whence the goods were consigned .
                                                                                o
 10 .                                                Norme         10.                                       Standard
         La réimportation en l'état n'est pas refu                       Reimportation in the same state shall nor
 sée p> h : !a raison que les marchandises ont                     be refused on the grounds that the goods were
été exportées sans reserve de retour.                              exported without notification of intended
                                                                   return .                                  .
           Délai pour la réimportation en Tcc.1t                      Time limit for reimportation in the same state
 îl .                         Pratique -recommandée                11 .                     Recommendcd Practice
         Lorsque la législation nationale fixe des                  -   - Where time limits are fixed in national
dotais au-delà' desquels la réimportation en                     " legislation beyond which reimportation in the
 f ci.it    est p ■ a s s.isCwp fi Oie ca c 1 1 e ac v o tc.ee,    same state will nor be granted , such, limits
 ces délais devraient être suffisants pour tenir                   should    be of sufficient duration to take
                                                            – 3S –
 ---pagebreak---   •(. ompic des circonstances particulières au \ clif-     account of the differing circumstances
    tereius cas dans lesquels la réimportation en          pertaining to each type ot case in which
    l'état peut être obtenue tout en n'étant pas           reimportation in the same state may be granted
    intérieurs à un an .                                   and should not be less than one year.
  - Remboursement des droits et taxes à l'exportation              Repayment of export duties and taxes
     12.            ~              Pratique recommandée-    12.                    Recommendcd l'ractice
              Le remboursement des droits et taxes à              Any-cxport duties and taxes paid should
     l'exportation éventuellement -perçus devrait           be repaid as soon as possible after the goods
     intervenir aussi rapidement que possible après         have been reiniported in the same state.        ■ '
     que les marchandises ont bénéficié de la réim
     portation en l'état.
                                                              I                                         . . ·
                                                «
                   Bureaux de douane compctents                          Compctçpt Customs offices
     13 .                                         ' Norme   13 .                                    Standard
  _           Les bureaux de douane dans lesquels les             Customs offices at which goods may be
  O.archandises peinent être déclarées pour la              declared for home use shall also be competent
■. mise à la consommation . sont également com             to grant reimportation in the same state.
     pétents pour accorder la reimportation en
    Tetat.              .                 '
      14 .                                          Norme    14.                                     Standard
              Les marchandises réimportées en l'état              Provision shall be made to permit goods
     doivent pouvoir être déclarées dans un bureau , reimportcd in the same state to be declared
     de douane différent de celui d'exportation des          at a Customs office other than that through
     marchandises.          -                                which they were exported.
                      Déclaration Je marchandises                            Goods declaration
                                                                       *                   .
      15 .                          Pratique recommandée     15 .                    Recommendcd l' ractice
               Les formules de déclaration de marchan-            Goods     declaration    forms    used     for
  Qiises qui sont a utiliser pour ia réimportation           reinrportation in the same state should be
   . en l'état des raient etre harmonisées avec celles       harmonized with those used for clearance for
      qui sont utilisées pour la mise à la consomma         home use .
      tion .
      Notes               .                                  Notes
           1 . Dans certains pays , la déclaration d'ex          ,1 :  In  some    countries . the     Goods
      portation avec reserve de retour peut égale           declaration for exportation with notification
      ment être utilisée pour la .réimportation en           of intended return may also be used for
      l' état.                                               reimportation in the same state.
           2. Lorsque les marchandises ont été expor             2. Where goods have been exported under
      tées sous le couvert d' un carnet ATA vise par        cover of an ATA carnet in accordance with
      la Convention douanière sur le carnet ATA             the Customs Convention on the ATA carnet
      pour l'admission temporaire de marchandises, :         for the temporary admission of goods ,, done
      conclue a Bruxelles, ie 6 décembre 1961 , la          at Brussels on 6 December 196 1 , reimportation
                                                       – 39 –
 ---pagebreak---   réimportation en l'état est effectuée sous le                   in the same state takes place under cover of
 couvert Je ce carnet .                                           that earner.
  16.                     ~          Pratique recommandée         16 .                        Recommcnded Practice
                Auuine      déclaration     Je  marchandises ,           No written Clouds declaration should be
  écrite ne devrait être exigée pour la réimpor                  required for the reimportation in the same
  tation en l'état Jes emballages , Jes conteneurs,               state of packings, containers, pallets and
  des pa!e;;cs et vies véhiculés routiers commer                 commercial road vehicles which are in use
  ciaux qui sont en cours d' utilisation pour le                  for the international transport of goods,
  transport international Je marchandises, sous                   subject to the satisfaction of the Customs
  reserve .qu' il soit établi à la satisfaction des                authorities that they were in free circulation
« autorites douanières, qu' ils se trouvaient en                   at the time of exportation .
  libre circulation lors Je l'exportation.
                         Documents à présenter                                  Documentation to he presented
              à l'appui de ta iieel.ir.uiun de ^ importation          in support of the declaration for reimportation
                                 en l'eut ■                                            in the same state
   17 .                                             •   Norme      17.                                         Standard
           \ l'appui Je la Jcclaration Je réimporta                     In     support of       the   declaration  for
  tion en l' état , les autorités Jouanieres n'exi                reimportation in the same state the CustoiQ
  gent v [ vie la production Jes pièces justificatives             authorities shall require the production of onU
   jugées nécessaires pour s'assurer que les con                  such documents as are considered necessary
  ditions fixées pour l'application du régime                      to ensure that the conditions laid down for the
  sont remplies.                                                   application of the procedure arc fulfilled.
-  Note                                                            Note
                 Les autorités douanières peuvent exiger                  The Customs authorities may require
   la production de la déclaration d'exportation,                  production of the export declaration , other
   des autres , documents d'exportation , des fac                 export documents, invoices, contracts, etc.
   tures, contrats, etc. , relatifs aux marchandises                relating to the exported goods, and
   exportées ainsi que la correspondance échan                    correspondence exchanged in respect of the
   gée au sujet du retour des marchandises. *                      return of the goods.
        1S .                           Pratique recommandée         18 .                       Recommcnded Practice
                 I orvjue ! cs marchandiNCs a reimporter en               Where t;oods to he reimported in the same
   l'et.u out etc esportees jvee reserve do rerour,                sure were exported with notification «>t
   les autorités douanières ne devraient normale-                  inrenJcd       return , the    Customs authoiitiy*
   nient p.is exiger a l'appui de la déclaration de                should normally not require in support of [ I.V
   réimportation , d' autre document que la décla - .              déclaration- of reimportation in the same state
        ration d'cxportaiion ou !e document d'iden– '              anv document other than the Goods
   tification qu a été etaoli lors de l'exportation. .             déclaration or the identification document
                                                                   issued at exportation .
        No:es                                                      Notes
             1 . Dans certains pays, la declaration d'ex-                 1 . In certain countries the declaration for
   portation avec reserve de retour est Ie seul                    exportation with notification of intended
   document exige pour la reimportation en *                       return is the only document required for
   l'etat.                              *                          reimportation in the same state.
           2 . l a reconnaissance de l' identité des mar-                 2 . The îdentity of the goods mav be
   chand '.scs peut être effectuée par les autorités *•            established bv the Customs authorities on the
   douanières sur la base des mesures d' identifi -                basis of the identification measures taken on
   cation prises à l'exportation .                                 exportation.
                                                             – 40 –
 ---pagebreak---       MjrvlûnJtw* exportées avec réserve de rcrour      Goods exported with notification of intended return
  (a) Marchandises à exporter avec réserve de           (a) Goods to be exported with notification of
        retour                                                  intended return
  19 .                     Pratique recommandée         19.                        Recommended Practice
        Les autorités douanières devraient, à la                The Customs authorities should, at the
  demande du déclarant, autoriser que les mar-.         request of the declarant, allow goods to be
  chandises soient exportées avec reserve de re        exported with notification of intended return,
  tour et prendre les mesures nécessaires en vue        and should take any necessary steps to
  de faciliter leur réimportation en l'éiat.            facilitate reimportation in the same state.
  ( b) Bureaux de douane compétents pour l'ex           ( b) • Customs       offices      competent     for
        portation avec reserve de retour                         exportation u ith notification of intended
                                                                 return
  20.                                         Norme      20 .                                       Standard
        Les bureaux de douane par lesquels les                   Customs offices at which goods may be
 "■Marchandées peuvent été exportées à titre             exported outright shall also be competent to
 lieftnitif sont également compétents pour auto         authorize exportation with notification of
  riser l'exportation avec reserve de retour.            intended return .
  (c)    Déclaration de marchandises pour l'ex          (c)     Goods declaration for exportation with
        portation avec reserve de retour                         notification of intended return
  21 .                     Pratique recommandée          21 .                      Recommended Practice
         Les formules de déclaration de marchan-                 The Goods, declaration forms used for
  dises'qui sonç à utiliser pour exporter des mar       exporting goods with notification of intended
  chandises avec reserve de retour devraient être         return should be harmonized with those used
   harmonisées avec celles qui sont utilisées pour        for outright exportation.
  l'exportation à titre définitif.
                                                          Note
   Note
         L exportation avec reserve de retour peut               Exportation with notification ot intended
   également etre effectuée sous le couvert d' un         return may also be authorized under cover
Qcarnet     ATA, en lieu et place d' un document         of an ATA earner in lieu of a national
   douanier national .                                   Customs document .              -
   (d) Documents .ir présenter à l'appui de la            (d ) Documentation to be presented in
         déclaration d'exportation avec reserve de-              support of the declaration for exportation
         retour       -                                          with notification of intended return
   if
                                              Norme       il                                        Standard
         Les • autorités douanières n'exigent à                  In support    ot    the    declaration   tor
   i'appu : vie ia déclaration d'exportation avec        exportation with notification of intended
   reserve vie retour que les documents qu'elles         return the Customs authorities shall require
  jugent indispensables pour permettre le con          T>nlv those documents considered necessary
   trôle 0e 1 opération et s'assurer que toutes les      by them to permit control of the operation
  prescriptions relatives à i'appiication des res       and to ensure compliance with all
                                                   – 41 –
 ---pagebreak---   trutur.s ou J'uutrc* dispositions 'prévues ont         requirements relating to the application of
 ctê observée *.                                        relevant restrictions or other regulations.
  (c) Identification des marcl.'.indises expor         (e) • Identification of goods exported with
        tées avec réserve de retour ■                          notification of intended return
  23 .                                        Norme      23 .                                      Standard
         Lorsqu'elles déterminent la nature des                When determining the nature of the
  mesures d' identification qui doivent être prises      identification measures to he taken with ,
. à l'egard vies marchandises exportées avec'            respect to goods exported with notification of
  reserve de retour , les autorités douanières           intended return, the Customs authorities shall
  tiennent compte notamment de la nature des"            take account in particular of the nature of the
  marchandises et des intérêts fiscaux en jeu .          goods and the revenue interests involved.
   Note                                                  Note
                                       «
         Pour l' identification    des   marchandises           For the identification of goods to be
  exportées avec reserve de retour, les autorités        exported with notification of intended return ,
  douanières peu\ent recourir à l' apposition de         the Customs authorities may affix Customs
   marques douanières ( scellements, timbres,             marks ( seals, stamps, perforations, etc.), or
   marques perforées, etc. ;, à la reconnaissance         rely on marks, numbers or other indicatioi'O
   des marques , numéros' ou autres indications           permanently affixed to the goods or on the
   figurant de manière permanente sur les mar            description of the goods, scale plans or
   chandises. à la description vies marchandises,         photographs, or take samples.
   a des plans a l'échelle ou a des photographies,
   au prélèvement d'échantillons.
   ( f)  Facilites accordées ai /.x marchandises ex*      ( f)  Facilities granted to goods exported with
         portées avec réserve de retour                         notification of intended return
   24 .                      Pratique recommandée      • 24.                       Recommcnded l'ractice
         Les marchandises exportées avec réserve                Goods exported w ith notification of
   de retour devraient bénéficier de la suspension        intended return should be granted conditional
   des droit .» et taxes à l'exportation éventuelle      relief from any export duties and taxes
   ment applicables.                                      applicable.                    - •
   Note                                                   Note                                              O
         Le déclarant peut être tenu de constituer              The declarant may be required to provide
   une garantie destinée à assurer le recouvre           security for recovery of the sums that would
   ment des sommes qui deviendraient exigibles            be chargeable if the goods were not
   si les marchandises n'etaien: pas reimportées          reimported within any time limit specified .
   dans le dJai éventuellement fixé.
   25 .                                        Norme      25 .                                      Standard
         A la -demande de la personne intéressée,               At the request of the person concerned,
   les autorités douanières permettent que l'ex-          the    Customs       authorities    shall   'allow
   por:.;:;on avec rcscr\e de retour soir -convertie     exportation with notification of intended
   en ùi'.c exportation définitive pour autant qu' il     return    to    be    converted    to    definitive
   soit s.itisrait aux conditions et formalités appli   exportation , subject to compliance with the
   cables dans ce cas.                                   relevant conditions and formalities .
                                                   – 42 –
 ---pagebreak--- Ι
           9
   # .\\ucs                    -                           Notes
          1 . Les droits et taxes à l'exportation qui            1 , Any export duties and taxes not paid
    n'auraient pas été perçus deviennent exigibles.        become chargeable.
          2 . 1.c remboursement ou l'exonération des             2. Normally, any repayment of or
   droits et taxes qui n'aurait pu être obtenu en *        exemption from duties and taxes which could
    raison Je l'exportation avec réserve de retour         not be obtained because the goods were
   est normalement accordé.-                               exported with notification of intended return
                                                           is allowed .                                    -
    26.                       Pratique rccnminaiuli'c      26.                       Recommcndcd Praclice
          Lorsqu'une même marchandise est desti                 Where the same goods arc to be exported
    née à être fréquemment exportée avec réserve           with     notification  of   intended    return    and
    de retour et réimportée en l'état , les autorités    ' reiniported in the same state several times , the
    douanières devraient permettre, a la demande           Customs authorities should , at the request
   du déclarant , que la déclaration d'exportation         of the declarant, allow the declaration for
    avec reserve de retour qui est déposée lors de         exportation with notification of intended
    la première exportation , soit rendue valable          return lodged on the first exportation to cover
    pour couvrir les réimportations et les exporta        the       subsequent . reimportations             and
    tions ultérieures de la marchandise pendant            exportations of the goods during a specified
  £jte . période déterminée.                               period.
    Note                                                   Nore
          Les réimportations er les exportations ul             The subsequent reimportations and
    térieures peuvent être annotées par les auto          exportations may be recorded on the Goods
    rités douanières sur la déclaration de marchan        declaration by the Customs authorities, by-
    dises, par l' apposition d' un cachet ou d' un         stamping or by appropriate endorsement.
    visa approprie.
                                                                            • »
    Renseignements concernant la réimportation en l'état    Information concerning reimportation in the wmc state
    27.                                        Nonne        27.                                        Standard
           Les autorités douanières font en sorte                 The Customs authorities shall ensure that
     que toute personne intéressée puisse se pro           all      relevant . information            regarding
     curer sans difficulté,' tous renseignements            reimportation in the same state is readily
     utiles au sujet de-la réimportation en l'etar.         available to any person interested . .
  o


|

52011DC0023

Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION on arrangements for the renegotiation of the Monetary Agreement with the Principality of Monaco  /* COM/2011/0023 final */

	[pic] | EUROPEAN COMMISSION |Brussels, 31.1.2011COM(2011) 23 finalRecommendation for aCOUNCIL DECISIONon arrangements for the renegotiation of the Monetary Agreement with the Principality of MonacoEXPLANATORY MEMORANDUMThe Monetary Agreements were concluded between the European Union and Monaco, San Marino and Vatican in order to give legal continuity to the arrangements which existed between these countries on the one hand and France and Italy on the other before the introduction of the euro.Ten years after the euro replaced the legacy currencies of Italy and France used by Monaco, San Marino and Vatican, the Council invited the Commission to review the functioning of the Monetary Agreements[1]. The results of the assessment were adopted in the 'Commission Communication on the functioning of the Monetary Agreements with Monaco, San Marino and Vatican'[2].The Commission concluded that the Monetary Agreements in their present form need to be amended with a view to ensuring a more consistent approach in the relations between the Union and the countries having signed the Agreements. On this basis, the Council adopted on 16 October 2009 two decisions mandating the European Commission and the Republic of Italy to renegotiate the existing agreements. A new Monetary Agreement was concluded with the Vatican City State on 17 December 2009[3], while the discussions with the Republic of San Marino are still ongoing.The present draft Recommendation for a Council Decision defines the arrangements for renegotiation of the Agreement with the Principality of Monaco.While an important number of changes were needed in the agreements concluded with Vatican and San Marino, the scope of the renegotiation of the Monetary Agreement with the Principality of Monaco should be much more limited since the Principality of Monaco already applies all relevant Union banking and financial legislation. The Commission proposes therefore to seek the amendment of the following provisions:-  Ceiling for the issuance of euro coinsFor historical reasons, the ceilings for maximum yearly issuance of Monaco, San Marino and Vatican were fixed in two different ways (Monaco is currently authorised to issue a maximum of 1/500th of the quantity of coins minted in France while Vatican and San Marino had/have fixed quotas) leading to very different results.With a view to ensuring fair treatment to all countries with the Monetary Agreements, the Commission has proposed to introduce a new uniform method for calculating the ceilings of euro coins issuance , to be also used in all Agreements. The Commission had also proposed to increase the ceilings of issuance of the countries having signed the Monetary Agreements with a view to allowing some circulation of their coins. Coins minted in low quantities are very demanded by coin collectors. As a consequence, the coins are not serving their original purpose of a payment instrument but are solely kept as collectors' items.In line with the new agreement with Vatican and with the one being negotiated with San Marino, the new ceilings for Monaco would be composed of a fixed and a variable part:1.  The fixed part should aim at covering the demand of coin collectors. According to common estimates, a total value of around EUR 2340000 should be sufficient to cover the demand of the collectors' market.2.  The variable part would be based, in the case of Monaco, on the average per capita issuance of France. The average number of coins per capita issued in France in yearn-1 would be multiplied by the number of inhabitants of the Principality of Monaco.3.  Election of jurisdictionThe present Monetary Agreements have not given the Union any leverage in the event that the countries having signed the Monetary Agreements do not fulfil their obligations (e.g. do not transpose the relevant Union legislation in due time), apart from the ultimate – and therefore unlikely - possibility to withdraw unilaterally from the Agreement. The Commission therefore proposes to elect the Court of Justice of the European Union as the jurisdiction responsible for settling disputes which may arise from the application of the Monetary Agreements.-  Form of the agreementThe form of the Monetary Agreement should be adjusted.-  Recommendation for aCOUNCIL DECISIONon the arrangements for the renegotiation of the Monetary Agreement with the Principality of MonacoTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 219(3) thereof,Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission[4],Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank[5],Whereas:4.  The Union has the competence for monetary and exchange rate matters as of the date of the introduction of the euro;5.  The Council should determine the arrangements for the negotiation and conclusion of agreements concerning monetary or foreign exchange regime matter.6.  The French Republic, on behalf of the European Community, concluded on 26 December 2001 a Monetary Agreement with the Principality of Monaco.7.  France has long standing monetary links with the Principality of Monaco, which are reflected in various legal instruments. The financial institutions located in the Principality of Monaco have the right to access the refinancing facilities of the Banque de France and they participate in some French payment systems under the same conditions as French banks.8.  The Council concluded on 10 February 2009 that the Commission should review the functioning of the existing agreements and consider possible increases in the ceilings for coin issuance.9.  The Commission concluded in the 'Communication on the functioning of the Monetary Agreements with Monaco, San Marino and Vatican'[6] that the Monetary Agreement with the Principality of Monaco in its present form needs to be amended with a view to ensuring a more consistent approach in the relations between the Union and the Countries having signed a monetary agreement.10.  The Monetary Agreement with Monaco should therefore be renegotiated with a view to adjusting the ceiling for the issuance of coins, electing a jurisdiction for possible dispute settlement and adjusting the format of the Agreement to the new common one. The current Agreement should be maintained until a new Agreement is concluded between the parties.HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:Article 1The French Republic shall notify the Principality of Monaco of the need to amend the existing Monetary Agreement between the French Republic, on behalf of the European Union, and the Principality of Monaco at the earliest possible date and offer renegotiation on the relevant provisions of the Agreement.Article 2The Union shall seek the following changes in the renegotiation of the Agreement with the Principality of Monaco:11.  The Agreement shall be concluded between the Union, represented by the French Republic and the European Commission, and the Principality of Monaco.12.  The method for determining the ceiling of issuance of Monaco euro coins shall be revised. The new ceiling shall be calculated using a method which will combine a fixed part aimed at avoiding excessive numismatic speculation on Monaco coins by satisfying the demand of the collector coin market and a variable part, calculated as the average per capita coin issuance of France in the year n-1 multiplied by the number of inhabitants of Monaco. Without prejudice to the issuance of collector coins, the Agreement shall set the minimum proportion of Monaco euro coins to be introduced at face value at 80%.13.  The Court of Justice of the European Union shall be elected as the body in charge of settling disputes which may arise from the application of the Agreement. If the Union or Monaco consider that the other Party has not fulfilled an obligation under the Monetary Agreement, it may bring the matter before the Court of Justice. The judgment of the Court shall be binding on the Parties, which will take the necessary measures to comply with the judgment within a period to be decided by the Court in its judgment. In case the Union or Monaco fail to take the necessary measures to comply with the judgment within the period, the other Party can terminate immediately the Agreement.14.  The format of the Agreement shall be adjusted.Article 3The negotiations with the Principality of Monaco shall be conducted by the French Republic and the Commission on behalf of the Union. The European Central Bank shall be fully associated with the negotiations and agree on issues falling in its field of competence. The French Republic and the Commission shall submit the draft agreement to the Economic and Financial Committee for opinion.Article 4The French Republic and the Commission shall be entitled to conclude the agreement on behalf of the Union, unless the Economic and Financial Committee or the ECB is of the opinion that the agreement should be submitted to the Council.This Decision is addressed to the French Republic, the Commission and the ECB.Done at Brussels,For the CouncilThe President [1] Council Conclusions on 'Common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation', 2922nd ECOFIN Council meeting of 10 February 2009.[2] COM (2009)359 of 14 July 2009[3] OJ C 28, 4.2.2010, p. 13–18[4] OJ C , , p. .[5] OJ C , , p. .[6] COM(2009)359