COUNCIL DECISION
of 23 June 2014
on the position to be adopted by 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 replacement of Protocol 3 to that Agreement, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, by a new Protocol which, as regards the rules of origin, refers to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin
(2014/419/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)
Protocol 3 to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation (1), (‘the Agreement’), concerns the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, (‘Protocol 3’).
(2)
The Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (2), (‘the Convention’), lays down provisions on the origin of goods traded under relevant Agreements concluded between the Contracting Parties.
(3)
The Union and Switzerland signed the Convention on 15 June 2011.
(4)
The Union and Switzerland deposited their instruments of acceptance with the depositary of the Convention on 26 March 2012 and 28 November 2011, respectively. As a consequence, in application of Article 10(3) of the Convention, the Convention entered into force in relation to the Union and Switzerland on 1 May 2012 and 1 January 2012, respectively.
(5)
Article 6 of the Convention provides that each Contracting Party is to take appropriate measures to ensure that the Convention is effectively applied. To that effect, the Joint Committee established by the Agreement should adopt a decision replacing Protocol 3 by a new Protocol which, with regard to the rules of origin, refers to the Convention.
(6)
The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
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, as regards the replacement of Protocol 3 to that Agreement, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, by a new Protocol which, as regards the rules of origin, refers to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin, shall be based on the draft decision of the Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Minor changes to the draft decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Joint Committee without further decision of the Council.
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 Luxembourg, 23 June 2014.