Commision Decision

of 3 March 2006

on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Chile concerning amendments to Appendix II of the Agreement on Trade in Spirit Drinks and Aromatised Drinks annexed to the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part

(2006/568/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 2005/269/EC of 28 February 2005 on the conclusion of an Agreement establishing an association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part [1], and in particular Article 3(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Taking account of the conclusions of the second Joint Committee meeting of the Agreement on Trade in Wines and of the first Joint Committee meeting of the Agreement on Trade in Spirit Drinks and Aromatised Drinks of the EU-Chile Association Agreement of 13- 14 June 2005 both held in Madrid, it is necessary to amend Appendix II of the Agreement on Trade in Spirit Drinks and Aromatised Drinks annexed to the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, in order to permit the use of certain Chilean trademarks that coincide with the Community geographical indications to be used on the Chilean internal market in limited quantities up to 31 January 2014, with effect from 24 April 2006.

(2) The Community and the Republic of Chile have negotiated, in accordance with Article 16(2) of the abovementioned Agreement, an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters to amend its Appendix II.

(3) The Exchange of Letters should therefore be approved.

(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Implementation Committee for Spirit Drinks,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Chile amending Appendix II of the Agreement on Trade in Spirit Drinks and Aromatised Drinks annexed to the Association Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development is hereby empowered to sign the Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Done at Brussels, 3 March 2006.

For the Commission

Mariann Fischer Boel

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 84, 2.4.2005, p. 19.

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