Council Decision (EU) 2017/2433Show full title

Council Decision (EU) 2017/2433

of 18 December 2017

on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Customs Sub-Committee established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, as regards the replacement of Protocol I to that Agreement, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, by a new protocol which refers to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin

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 Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part(1) (‘the Agreement’), was concluded by the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2016/838(2) and entered into force on 1 July 2016.

(2) Pursuant to Article 38 of Protocol I to the Agreement (‘Protocol I’), the EU-Georgia Customs Sub-Committee established by Article 74(1) of the Agreement (‘Customs Sub-Committee’) may adopt amendments to the provisions of that Protocol.

(3) The Customs Sub-Committee is to adopt a decision on the replacement of Protocol I, concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation, by a new protocol which refers to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin(3) (‘the Convention’).

(4) The Convention lays down provisions on the origin of goods traded under relevant agreements concluded between the Contracting Parties. The Convention entered into force in relation to the Union and to Georgia on 1 May 2012 and on 1 July 2017 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, Protocol I should be replaced by a new protocol which, with regard to the rules of origin, refers to the Convention.

(6) It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on the Union's behalf in the Customs Sub-Committee, as the decision will be binding upon the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

OJ L 261, 30.8.2014, p. 4.

(2)

Council Decision (EU) 2016/838 of 23 May 2016 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 141, 28.5.2016, p. 26).

(3)

OJ L 54, 26.2.2013, p. 4.