(1)

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) was established in 1944 following the termination of the International Rubber Regulation Scheme, which had operated from 1934.

(2)

The IRSG is an intergovernmental organisation the objectives of which are to provide a forum for the discussion of problems affecting the production and consumption of, and trade in, natural and synthetic rubbers, and to collect and disseminate comprehensive statistical information on the world rubber industry.

(3)

The activities of the IRSG are mainly financed by members’ contributions. Of the approved budget, 60 % is to be met by basic contributions as paid in equal amounts by all members. The balance of 40 % is to be paid by members in proportion to the average of their production or consumption (whichever is larger) of rubber in the three calendar years prior to the financial year in question.

(4)

By means of Council Decision 2002/651/EC (2), the European Community became a member of the IRSG. Since 1 July 2011, only the Union is a member of the IRSG, all Member States of the Union that were previously members thereof having served formal notice of withdrawal. This is reflected in the amended Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the IRSG, which the Union signed and concluded by means of Council Decisions 2011/664/EU (3) and 2012/283/EU (4), respectively.

(5)

In accordance with Article XVI, paragraph 3, of the IRSG Constitution (5), a notice of withdrawal by a member is to be delivered in writing to the Secretary-General by 1 November to be effective on 30 June of the subsequent calendar year and members giving notice after 1 November are liable for the membership contribution for the next ensuing financial year.

(6)

In recent years, the IRSG has been negatively affected by the withdrawal of important member countries. It has therefore become an international organisation of limited and declining relevance. The current membership of the IRSG is representative of only about 10 % of the world production and 25 % of the world consumption of natural rubber.

(7)

The downward trend in the representativity of the IRSG is unlikely to change in the future.

(8)

As a consequence of the reduced number of members, the depletion of the IRSG’s cash reserves and the evolution of the EUR/SGD exchange rate, the Union's contribution to the IRSG’s budget is significant and rising.

(9)

The continued membership of the Union in an intergovernmental organisation of limited and declining relevance would be inefficient. The Union should therefore withdraw from the IRSG,