Considerations on COM(2024)501 -

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dossier COM(2024)501 - .
document COM(2024)501
date October 31, 2024
 
(1) The Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member states, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 2006/356/EC0 and entered into force on 1 April 2006. Protocol 4 defines the concept of ‘originating products’ and lays down methods of administrative cooperation (Protocol 4).

(2) Pursuant to Article 38 of that Protocol, the Association Council established by Article 74(1) of the Agreement (‘the Association Council’) may decide to amend its provisions.

(3) The Association Council, during its next meeting or by exchange of letters is to adopt a Decision on an amendment of Protocol 4.

(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Association Council as the decision of the Association Council will be binding on the Union.

(5) The Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (‘the Convention’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 2013/93/EU0 and entered into force in relation to the Union on 1 May 2012. It lays down provisions on the origin of goods traded under relevant agreements concluded between the Contracting Parties, which apply without prejudice to the principles laid down in those agreements.

(6) The Convention was amended by Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin of 7 December 20230.

(7) The amendment to the Convention enters into force on 1 January 2025 in relation to all Contracting Parties. To ensure effective and immediate application of the amendment to the Convention between the Parties, a reference to the Convention should be introduced in Protocol 4, so as to always refer to the latest version of the Convention in force. In the absence of such reference, the effective application of the amendment to the Convention would not be ensured which could impact the system of diagonal cumulation.

(8) Article 6 of the Convention provides that each Contracting Party is to take appropriate measures to ensure that the Convention is effectively applied. To that effect, the Association Council should adopt a decision introducing in Protocol 4 to the Agreement a reference to the Convention so as to always refer to the latest version of the Convention in force.