COUNCIL DECISION
of 13 October 2014
establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee on Government Procurement on the accession of Montenegro to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement
(2014/720/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
On 4 November 2013, Montenegro applied for accession to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement (‘the Revised GPA’).
(2)
Montenegro's commitments on coverage are laid down in its final offer, as submitted to the Parties to the Revised GPA on 18 July 2014.
(3)
Montenegro's final offer mirrors the Union's coverage schedule in Appendix I to the Revised GPA. Therefore, it is satisfactory and acceptable. The terms of Montenegro's accession, as reflected in the Annex to this Decision, will be reflected in the decision adopted by the Committee on Government Procurement (‘the GPA Committee’) on Montenegro's accession.
(4)
Montenegro's accession to the Revised GPA is expected to make a positive contribution to further international opening of public procurement markets.
(5)
Article XXII(2) of the Revised GPA provides that any Member of the WTO may accede to the Revised GPA on terms to be agreed between that Member and the Parties, with such terms stated in a decision of the GPA Committee.
(6)
Accordingly, it is necessary to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf within the GPA Committee in relation to the accession of Montenegro,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union's behalf within the Committee on Government Procurement shall be to approve the accession of Montenegro to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement, subject to specific terms of accession set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 13 October 2014.