Considerations on COM(2017)162 - EU position within the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin as regards the request of Ukraine to become Party to that Convention

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dossier COM(2017)162 - EU position within the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin as regards the request of ...
document COM(2017)162 EN
date April  6, 2017
 
(1) The Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (the 'Convention'), which sets out the rules on the origin of goods traded under the relevant Agreements concluded between the Contracting Parties, entered into force on 1 December 2012.

(2) Article 5(1) of the Convention provides that a third party may become a Contracting Party to the Convention, provided that the candidate country or territory has a free trade agreement in force, providing for preferential rules of origin, with at least one of the Contracting Parties.

(3) To that end, Article 5(2) and (3) of the Convention require a third party to submit a written request for accession to the depositary of the Convention which, in turn, has to submit the request to the Joint Committee for its consideration.

(4) Ukraine submitted a written request for accession to the Convention to the depositary of the Convention on 12 September 2016.

(5) Ukraine has a free trade agreement in force with several Contracting Parties to the Convention and therefore complies with the condition set out in Article 5(1) of the Convention to become a Contracting Party.

(6) Pursuant to Article 4(3)(b) of the Convention, the Joint Committee adopt by decision invitations to third parties to accede to the Convention.

(7) The position to be taken by the European Union within the Joint Committee should be to vote in favour of a decision inviting Ukraine to accede to the Convention.