(1)

The Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (‘the WTO Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision 94/800/EC (1) and entered into force on 1 January 1995.

(2)

Pursuant to Article X:9 of the WTO Agreement, the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is able to decide by consensus to incorporate an agreement into Annex 4 to the WTO Agreement.

(3)

The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, which will take place from 26 to 29 February 2024, could adopt a decision on the incorporation of the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development into Annex 4 to the WTO Agreement.

(4)

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, as the decision is binding on the Union.

(5)

Negotiations for the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development were formally launched in September 2020. The Commission conducted the negotiations on behalf of the Union. The negotiations were concluded on 6 July 2023.

(6)

As not all WTO Members participated in the negotiations, the intention of the WTO Members participating in the negotiations is to submit a request to incorporate the Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development as a plurilateral agreement into Annex 4 to the WTO Agreement. The Union should participate in that request as a preparatory step towards a possible decision of the Ministerial Conference,