Legal provisions of COM(2005)527 - Community position within the Joint Committee on a recommendation on the re-importation of originating products and on the acceptance by the Contracting Parties of simplified proofs of origin, made out by approved exporters, to the Agreement with Switzerland

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Important legal notice

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52005PC0527

Proposal for a Council Decision on a Community position within the Joint Committee on a recommendation on the re-importation of originating products and on the acceptance by the Contracting Parties of simplified proofs of origin, made out by approved exporters, to the Agreement between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part /* COM/2005/0527 final - ACC 2005/0218 */


[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 8.11.2005

COM(2005) 527 final

2005/0218 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on a Community position within the Joint Committee on a recommendation on the re-importation of originating products and on the acceptance by the Contracting Parties of simplified proofs of origin, made out by approved exporters, to the Agreement between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL |

110 | Grounds for and objectives of the proposal The Agreement between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as the Agreement , does in principle not make any distinction between products originating in one Party or the other, in order to define the scope of the abolition of the customs duties and charges having an equivalent effect, and of the prohibition of the introduction of new ones provided for by the Agreement. Such a distinction is made only regarding the preferential treatment applicable to certain products. It should therefore be clarified that, if products are covered by a reciprocal elimination of customs duties without making a distinction between products originating in one Party or the other, this elimination of customs duties applies at import into the Community or into Switzerland of the products concerned, whether these products are originating in Switzerland or in the Community. Article 22 (1) of Protocol No 3 of the Agreement establishes that the customs authorities of the exporting country may authorise any exporter, hereinafter referred to as approved exporter, who makes frequent shipments of products under the Agreement to make out invoice declarations. The contracting parties agree that, in the context of the Agreement, the approved exporter authorisation is issued either by the customs authorities of the Swiss Confederation or by the customs authorities of a Member State of the European Community, which is not necessarily the Member State where the invoice declaration was made out nor the Member State from which the goods were supplied. |

120 | General context To provide for clear guidelines two interpretative notes have been agreed between the representatives of the Swiss Federal Administration and of the services of the Commission. These two notes have been endorsed on 10 May 2004 through administrative letters that were signed for the Swiss administration by Mr. Gerber, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, and for the Commission services by Mr. Verrue, Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union. The two issues were also addressed at ministerial level. In Annex C to the conclusions of the EU - Switzerland summit of 19 May 2004 the interpretations of the experts were confirmed. Both sides agreed to formalise these interpretations by recommendations of the joint committee in charge of managing the bilateral free trade agreement. |

139 | Existing provisions in the area of the proposal There are no existing provisions in the area of the proposal. |

141 | Consistency with the other policies and objectives of the Union Not applicable. |

CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT |

Consultation of interested parties |

219 | No consultation needed because the proposed recommendation follows a request of the interested parties. |

Collection and use of expertise |

229 | There was no need for external expertise. |

230 | Impact assessment Not applicable. |

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL |

305 | Summary of the proposed action For authorising the Community delegation to adopt the recommendations the Council has to agree to the attached draft recommendation as the Community position to be taken in the EC - Switzerland Joint Committee. Following the adoption of the Community position, the competent Commission services shall proceed with the adoption of the draft Recommendation by the EC - Switzerland Joint Committee and its subsequent publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. |

310 | Legal basis Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300 paragraph 2, second subparagraph of the Treaty establishing the European Community. |

329 | Subsidiarity principle The proposal falls under the exclusive competence of the Community. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply. |

Proportionality principle The proposal complies with the proportionality principle for the following reason(s). |

331 | There is no other option in the present case. Therefore this is the simplest measure possible. |

332 | There is no extra financial and administrative burden. |

Choice of instruments |

341 | Proposed instruments: recommendation. |

342 | Other means would not be adequate for the following reason(s). Article 29 of the Agreement provides that, for the purposes of the administration of the Agreement, measures taken by the EC-Switzerland Joint Committee take the form of recommendation. |

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION |

409 | The proposal has no implication for the Community budget. |

1. 2005/0218 (ACC)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on a Community position within the Joint Committee on a recommendation on the re-importation of originating products and on the acceptance by the Contracting Parties of simplified proofs of origin, made out by approved exporters, to the Agreement between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 in conjunction with Article 300 paragraph 2, second subparagraph,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas Article 29 of the Agreement between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, provides that the Joint Committee may decide to make recommendations,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The position to be adopted by the Community within the Joint Committee established by virtue of the Agreement between the European Economic Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, on a recommendation on the re-importation of originating products and on the acceptance by the Contracting Parties of simplified proofs of origin, made out by approved exporters, is that defined in the attached draft recommendation of the EC-Switzerland Joint Committee.