COUNCIL DECISION
of 23 January 2012
on the position to be taken by the European Union within the EU-Chile Special Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin relating to Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, concerning the definition of the concept of originating products and methods of administrative cooperation
(2012/71/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
Preferential rules of origin are essential for the correct functioning of the free trade agreements between the European Union and its trading partners, including Chile. The Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part (1) (‘Association Agreement’), was signed on 18 November 2002.
(2)
Annex III to the Association Agreement defines the concept of originating products and methods of administrative cooperation. It entered into force on 1 February 2003.
(3)
Explanatory Notes to Annex III - which provide customs authorities with clear guidelines on the practical application of that Annex - have been in force since 1 January 2004.
(4)
The Association Agreement aims, inter alia, under Article 58 thereof, at eliminating customs duties on products originating in one Party and exported to the other Party, by referring to the rules of origin laid down in Annex III to that Agreement. That Annex refers, in Article 36(2) thereof, to the ‘customs territory of the Community’.
(5)
The position to be taken by the Union within the EU-Chile Special Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin should be based on the attached draft Decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken by the European Union within the EU-Chile Special Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin relating to Annex III to the Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, concerning the definition of the concept of originating products and methods of administrative cooperation, shall be based on the draft Decision of that EU-Chile Special Committee attached to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 23 January 2012.