11957E111

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Article 111

The following provisions shall , without prejudice to Articles 115 and 116 , apply during the transitional period :

1 . Member States shall coordinate their trade relations with third countries so as to bring about , by the end of the transitional period , the conditions needed for implementing a common policy in the field of external trade .

The Commission shall submit to the Council proposals regarding the procedure for common action to be followed during the transitional period and regarding the achievement of uniformity in their commercial policies .

2 . The Commission shall submit to the Council recommendations for tariff negotiations with third countries in respect of the common customs tariff .

The Council shall authorise the Commission to open such negotiations .

The Commission shall conduct these negotiations in consultation with a special committee appointed by the Council to assist the Commission in this task and within the framework of such directives as the Council may issue to it .

3 . In exercising the powers conferred upon it by this Article , the Council shall act unanimously during the first two stages and by a qualified majority thereafter .

4 . Member States shall , in consultation with the Commission , take all necessary measures , particularly those designed to bring about an adjustment of tariff agreements in force with third countries , in order that the entry into force of the common customs tariff shall not be delayed .

5 . Member States shall aim at securing as high a level of uniformity as possible between themselves as regards their liberalisation lists in relation to third countries or groups of third countries . To this end , the Commission shall make all appropriate recommendations to Member States .

If Member States abolish or reduce quantitative restrictions in relation to third countries , they shall inform the Commission beforehand and shall accord the same treatment to other Member States .