COUNCIL DECISION
of 6 May 2014
on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 as regards the adaptation of Protocol 3 to the Agreement (Definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation) following Croatia's accession to the European Union
(2014/266/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation are set out in Protocol 3 to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972 (1) (‘the Agreement’).
(2)
Upon Croatia's accession to the European Union on 1 July 2013, trade between Croatia and the Swiss Confederation (‘Switzerland’) is subject to the Agreement and the application of the trade agreements concluded between Croatia and Switzerland is discontinued from that date.
(3)
In order to ensure the proper functioning of the Agreement and with a view to facilitating the work of economic operators and customs administrations, Protocol 3 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4)
Pursuant to Article 39 of Protocol 3, the Joint Committee may decide to amend the provisions of that Protocol.
(5)
The position of the Union within the EU-Switzerland Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be adopted on the Union's behalf within the EU-Switzerland Joint Committee with regard to an amendment to Protocol 3 to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation of 22 July 1972, shall be based on the draft Decision of the Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The Decision of the Joint Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 6 May 2014.