Council Decision (EU) 2019/2249
of 19 December 2019
on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Committee on Rules of Origin of the World Trade Organization
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:
The Agreement on Rules of Origin (the ‘Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 94/800/EC1 and entered into force on 1 January 1995.
Article 4 of the Agreement establishes the Committee on Rules of Origin.
The Committee on Rules of Origin is to adopt a communication entitled ‘Enhancing Transparency in Non-preferential Rules of Origin’.
It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Committee on Rules of Origin, as the communication to be adopted will be binding on the Union.
The proposed position to be taken on the Union’s behalf aims to enhance transparency of laws, regulations and practices regarding non-preferential rules of origin, by means of rules on mandatory or voluntary notification by World Trade Organization (WTO) members of their non-preferential rules of origin, using standardised templates. This will result in clearer and more predictable rules of origin and will facilitate the flow of international trade,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: