The European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Colombia and Peru Trade Agreement) Order 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

On 26 June 2012, the European Union and all its Member States signed the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia and Peru, of the other part (the “Agreement”). Peru and Colombia signed the Agreement on the same day. The Agreement has been provisionally applied since 1^st March 2013 (as regards Peru) and since 1^st August 2013 (as regards Colombia). It will enter into force between the EU and Colombia and Peru respectively on the first day of the month following the date on which the Depositary established under the Agreement receives notification in writing that the relevant Parties have completed their internal procedures, as required for the entry into force of the Agreement as between them, or on such other date as the Parties may agree.

This Order declares the Agreement to be an EU Treaty as defined by section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. The principal effect of declaring the Agreement to be an EU Treaty is that the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 (which provide for the implementation of EU Treaties) apply to it.

A full Impact Assessment has not been carried out for this Order as an initial assessment determined that it is expected to have a negligible impact on the costs and benefits for business, the voluntary sector and public finances in the United Kingdom.