This Convention shall be opened for signature by the States members of the European Communities or of the European Free Trade Association.

The Convention shall be submitted for ratification by the signatory States. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Swiss Federal Council.

The Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the third month following the date on which two States, of which one is a member of the European Communities and the other a member of the European Free Trade Association, deposit their instruments of ratification.

The Convention shall take effect in relation to any other signatory State on the first day of the third month following the deposit of its instrument of ratification.