2002A2430 — EN — 15.05.2012 — 001.001

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This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

►B	AGREEMENT between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p.73)

Amended by:

		Official Journal
		No	page	date
M1	Decision No 1/2004 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 6 April 2004	L 151	1	30.4.2004
M2	Decision No 3/2004 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 22 April 2004	L 151	9	30.4.2004
M3	Decision No 1/2005 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 12 July 2005	L 210	46	12.8.2005
M4	Decision No 2/2005 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 25 November 2005	L 347	91	30.12.2005
M5	Decision No 1/2006 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 18 October 2006	L 298	23	27.10.2006
M6	Decision No 2/2006 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 18 October 2006	L 298	25	27.10.2006
M7	Decision No 3/2006 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 27 October 2006	L 318	31	17.11.2006
M8	Decision No 4/2006 of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee of 27 October 2006	L 318	42	17.11.2006
M9	Decision No 1/2007 of the joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 5 December 2007	L 34	19	8.2.2008
M10	Decision No 2/2007 of the Joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 15 December 2007	L 127	58	15.5.2008
M11	Decision No 1/2008 of the Joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 16 December 2008	L 40	38	11.2.2009
M12	Decision No 1/2010 of the Joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 7 April 2010	L 106	20	28.4.2010
M13	Decision No 2/2010 of the Joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 26 November 2010	L 347	54	31.12.2010
M14	Decision No 1/2011 of the Joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 4 July 2011	L 187	32	16.7.2011
M15	Decision No 2/2011 of the Joint Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 25 November 2011	L 338	70	21.12.2011
►M16	Decision No 1/2012 of the Joint European Union/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 10 May 2012	L 128	14	16.5.2012

Corrected by:

C1	Corrigendum, OJ L 208, 10.6.2004, p. 1  (404/2004)
C2	Corrigendum, OJ L 208, 10.6.2004, p. 7  (406/2004)

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▼B

AGREEMENT

between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport

CHAPTER 1

Objectives

Article 1

1.  This Agreement sets out rules for the Contracting Parties in the field of civil aviation. These provisions are without prejudice to those contained in the EC Treaty and in particular to existing Community competences under the competition rules and the regulations of application of such rules, as well as under all relevant Community legislation listed in the Annex to this Agreement.

2.  For this purpose, the provisions laid down in this Agreement as well as in the regulations and directives specified in the Annex shall apply under the condition set out hereafter. Insofar as they are identical in substance to corresponding rules of the EC Treaty and to acts adopted in application of that Treaty, those provisions shall, in their implementation and application, be interpreted in conformity with the relevant rulings and decisions of the Court of Justice and the Commission of the European Communities given prior to the date of signature of this Agreement. The rulings and decisions given after the date of signature of this Agreement shall be communicated to Switzerland. At the request of one of the Contracting Parties, the implications of such latter rulings and decisions shall be determined by the Joint Committee in view of ensuring the proper functioning of this Agreement.

Article 2

The provisions of this Agreement and its Annex shall apply to the extent that they concern air transport or matters directly related to air transport as mentioned in the Annex to this Agreement.

CHAPTER 2

General Provisions

Article 3

Within the scope of this Agreement, and without prejudice to any special provisions contained therein, any discrimination on grounds of nationality shall be prohibited.

Article 4

Within the scope of this Agreement and without prejudice to the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92, as included in the Annex to this Agreement, there shall be no restrictions on the freedom of establishment of nationals of an EC Member State or Switzerland in the territory of any of these States. This shall also apply to the setting up of agencies, branches and subsidiaries by nationals of any EC Member State or Switzerland established in the territory of any of these States. Freedom of establishment shall include the right to take up and pursue activities as self-employed persons and to set up and manage undertakings, in particular companies or firms within the meaning of Article 5, paragraph 2, under the conditions laid down for its own nationals by the law of the country where such establishment is effected.

Article 5

1.  Within the scope of this Agreement, companies or firms formed in accordance with the law of an EC Member State or Switzerland and having their registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the Community or Switzerland shall be treated in the same way as natural persons who are nationals of EC Member States or Switzerland.

2.  ‘Companies or firms’ means companies or firms constituted under civil or commercial law, including cooperative societies, and other legal persons governed by public or private law, save for those which are non-profit-making.

Article 6

Articles 4 and 5 shall not apply, as far as a Contracting Party is concerned, to activities which in that Contracting Party are connected, even occasionally, with the exercise of official authority.

Article 7

Articles 4 and 5 and measures taken in pursuance thereof shall not prejudice the applicability of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action providing for special treatment for foreign nationals on grounds of public policy, public security or public health.

Article 8

1.  The following shall be prohibited as incompatible with this Agreement: all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which may affect trade between the Contracting Parties and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the territory covered by this Agreement, and in particular those which:

2.  Any agreements or decisions prohibited pursuant to this Article shall be automatically void.

3.  The provisions of paragraph 1 may, however, be declared inapplicable in the case of:

3.  which contributes to improving the production or distribution of goods or to promoting technical or economic progress, while allowing consumers a fair share of the resulting benefit, and which does not:

Article 9

Any abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position within the territory covered by this Agreement or in a substantial part of it shall be prohibited as incompatible with this Agreement insofar as it may affect trade between the Contracting Parties.

Such abuse may, in particular, consist in:

Article 10

All agreements, decisions and concerted practices, which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition, as well as abuses of a dominant position, which may only affect trade within Switzerland, shall be subject to Swiss law and remain under the competence of the Swiss authorities.

Article 11

1.  The provisions of Articles 8 and 9 shall be applied and concentrations between undertakings shall be controlled by the Community institutions in accordance with Community legislation as set out in the Annex to this Agreement, taking into account the need for close cooperation between the Community institutions and the Swiss authorities.

2.  The Swiss authorities shall rule, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 8 and 9, on the admissibility of all agreements, decisions and concerted practices as well as abuses of a dominant position concerning routes between Switzerland and third countries.

Article 12

1.  In the case of public undertakings and undertakings to which EC Member States or Switzerland grant special or exclusive rights, the Contracting Parties shall ensure that there is neither enacted nor maintained in force any measure contrary to the rules contained in this Agreement.

2.  Undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest or having the character of a revenue-producing monopoly, shall be subject to the rules contained in this Agreement, in particular to the rules on competition, insofar as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them. The development of trade must not be affected to such an extent as would be contrary to the interests of the Contracting Parties.

Article 13

1.  Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any aid granted by Switzerland or by an EC Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, insofar as it affects trade between Contracting Parties, be incompatible with this Agreement.

2.  The following shall be compatible with this Agreement:

3.  The following may be considered to be compatible with this Agreement:

Article 14

The Commission and the Swiss authorities shall keep under constant review matters to which reference is made in Article 12 and all systems of aid existing respectively in the EC Member States and in Switzerland. Each Contracting Party shall ensure that the other Contracting Party is informed of any procedure initiated to guarantee respect of the rules of Articles 12 and 13 and, if necessary, may submit observations before any final decision is taken. Upon request by one Contracting Party, the Joint Committee shall discuss any appropriate measures required by the purpose and functioning of this Agreement.

CHAPTER 3

Traffic Rights

Article 15

1.  Subject to the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, as included in the Annex to this Agreement:

2.  For the purpose of paragraph 1:

3.  The Contracting Parties shall undertake negotiations on the possible extension of the scope of this Article to cover traffic rights between points within Switzerland and between points within the EC Member States five years after the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 16

The provisions of this Chapter supersede the relevant provisions of existing bilateral arrangements between Switzerland and the EC Member States. However, existing traffic rights which originate from these bilateral arrangements and which are not covered under Article 15 can continue to be exercised, provided that there is no discrimination on the grounds of nationality and competition is not distorted.

CHAPTER 4

Enforcement of the Agreement

Article 17

The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures, whether general or particular, to ensure fulfilment of the obligations arising out of this Agreement and shall refrain from any measures which would jeopardise attainment of the objectives of this Agreement.

Article 18

1.  Without prejudice to paragraph 2 and the provisions of Chapter 2, each Contracting Party shall be responsible in its own territory for the proper enforcement of this Agreement and, in particular, the regulations and directives listed in the Annex.

2.  In cases which may affect air services to be authorised under Chapter 3, the Community institutions shall enjoy the powers granted to them under the provisions of the regulations and directives whose application is explicitly confirmed in the Annex. However, in cases where Switzerland has taken or envisages taking measures of an environmental nature under either Article 8(2) or 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, the Joint Committee, upon request by one of the Contracting Parties, shall decide whether those measures are in conformity with this Agreement.

3.  Any enforcement action under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be carried out in accordance with Article 19.

Article 19

1.  Each Contracting Party shall give the other Contracting Party all necessary information and assistance in the case of investigations on possible infringements which that other Contracting Party carries out under its respective competences as provided in this Agreement.

2.  Whenever the Community institutions act under the powers granted to them by this Agreement on matters which are of interest to Switzerland and which concern the Swiss authorities or Swiss undertakings, the Swiss authorities shall be fully informed and given the opportunity to comment before a final decision is taken.

Article 20

All questions concerning the validity of decisions of the institutions of the Community taken on the basis of their competences under this Agreement, shall be of the exclusive competence of the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

CHAPTER 5

Joint Committee

Article 21

1.  A committee composed of representatives of the Contracting Parties, to be known as the ‘Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee’ (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Committee), is hereby established which shall be responsible for the administration of this Agreement and shall ensure its proper implementation. For this purpose it shall make recommendations and take decisions in the cases provided for in this Agreement. The decisions of the Joint Committee shall be put into effect by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own rules. The Joint Committee shall act by mutual agreement.

2.  For the purpose of the proper implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall exchange information and, at the request of either Contracting Party, shall hold consultations within the Joint Committee.

3.  The Joint Committee shall adopt, by a decision, its rules of procedure which shall include, among other provisions, the procedures for convening meetings, appointing the Chairman and laying down the latter's terms of reference.

4.  The Joint Committee shall meet as and when necessary, and at least once a year. Either Contracting Party may request the convening of a meeting.

5.  The Joint Committee may decide to set up any working party that can assist it in carrying out its duties.

Article 22

1.  A decision of the Joint Committee shall be binding upon the Contracting Parties.

2.  If, in the view of one of the Contracting Parties, a decision of the Joint Committee is not properly implemented by the other Contracting Party, the former may request that the issue be discussed by the Joint Committee. If the Joint Committee cannot solve the issue within two months of its referral, that Contracting Party may take appropriate temporary safeguard measures under Article 31 for a period not exceeding 6 months.

3.  The decisions of the Joint Committee shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and the Official Compendium of Swiss Federal Law. Each decision shall state the date of its implementation in the Contracting Parties and any other information likely to concern economic operators. The decisions shall be submitted if necessary for ratification or approval by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

4.  The Contracting Parties shall notify each other of the completion of this formality. If upon the expiry of a period of twelve months after adoption of a decision by the Joint Committee such notification has not taken place, paragraph 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

5.  Without prejudice to paragraph 2, if the Joint Committee does not take a decision on an issue which has been referred to it within six months of the date of referral, the Contracting Parties may take appropriate temporary safeguard measures under Article 31 for a period not exceeding six months.

6.  As regards legislation covered by Article 23 which has been adopted between the signature of this Agreement and its entry into force and of which the other Contracting Party has been informed, the date of referral in paragraph 5 shall be taken as the date on which the information was received. The date on which the Joint Committee shall reach a decision may not be earlier than two months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

CHAPTER 6

New Legislation

Article 23

1.  The Agreement shall be without prejudice to the right of each Contracting Party, subject to compliance with the principle of non-discrimination and the provisions of this Agreement, to amend unilaterally its legislation on a point regulated by this Agreement.

2.  As soon as new legislation is being drawn up by one of the Contracting Parties, it shall informally seek advice from experts of the other Contracting Party. During the period preceding the formal adoption of new legislation, the Contracting Parties shall inform and consult each other as closely as possible. At the request of one of the Contracting Parties, a preliminary exchange of views may take place in the Joint Committee.

3.  As soon as a Contracting Party has adopted an amendment of its legislation, it shall inform the other Contracting Party at the latest eight days after the publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities or the Official Compendium of Swiss Federal Law. Upon request of one Contracting Party, the Joint Committee shall hold an exchange of views on the implications of such an amendment for the proper functioning of this Agreement within six weeks after the request at the latest.

4.  The Joint Committee shall:

CHAPTER 7

Third countries and international organisations

Article 24

The Contracting Parties shall consult with each other in due time at the request of either Contracting Party, in accordance with the procedures laid down in Articles 25, 26 and 27:

The consultations shall be held within one month of the request or as soon as possible in urgent cases.

Article 25

1.  The main aims of the consultations provided for in Article 24(a) shall be:

2.  The Contracting Parties shall as soon as possible exchange any information of relevance to the aims described in paragraph 1.

Article 26

1.  The main aims of the consultations provided for in Article 24(b) shall be to examine the relevant issues and to consider any approach which might be appropriate.

2.  For the purpose of the consultations referred to in paragraph 1, each Contracting Party shall inform the other Contracting Party of possible developments in the field of air transport and of the operation of bilateral or multilateral agreements concluded in that field.

Article 27

1.  The consultations provided for in Articles 24, 25 and 26 shall take place within the framework of the Joint Committee.

2.  If an agreement between one of the Contracting Parties and a third country or an international organisation were to affect negatively the interests of the other Contracting Party, the latter, notwithstanding the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, as included in the Annex to this Agreement, may take appropriate temporary safeguard measures in the field of market access in order to maintain the balance of this Agreement. Such measures may, however, be adopted only after consultations on this issue have taken place within the Joint Committee.

CHAPTER 8

Final Provisions

Article 28

The representatives, experts and other servants of the Contracting Parties shall be required, even after their duties have ceased, not to disclose information, obtained in the framework of this Agreement, which is covered by the obligation of professional secrecy.

Article 29

Each Contracting Party may bring a matter under dispute which concerns the interpretation or application of this Agreement before the Joint Committee. The latter shall endeavour to settle the dispute. The Joint Committee shall be provided with all information which might be of use in making possible an in-depth examination of the situation, with a view to finding an acceptable solution. To this end, the Joint Committee shall examine all possibilities of maintaining the good functioning of this Agreement. The provisions of this Article shall not apply to questions which are within the exclusive competence of the Court of Justice of the European Communities under Article 20.

Article 30

1.  If one of the Contracting Parties wishes to revise the provisions of this Agreement, it shall notify the Joint Committee accordingly. The amendment to this Agreement shall enter into force after completion of the respective internal procedures.

2.  The Joint Committee may, upon the proposal of one Contracting Party and in accordance with Article 23, decide to modify the Annex.

Article 31

If one Contracting Party refuses to comply with any obligation under this Agreement, the other Contracting Party may, without prejudice to Article 22 and after having completed any other applicable procedure provided for in this Agreement, take appropriate temporary safeguard measures in order to maintain the balance of this Agreement.

Article 32

The Annex to this Agreement shall form an integral part thereof.

Article 33

Without prejudice to Article 16, this Agreement shall supersede the relevant provisions of bilateral arrangements in force between Switzerland on the one hand and EC Member States on the other hand concerning any matter covered by this Agreement and the Annex thereof.

Article 34

This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other, to the territory of Switzerland.

Article 35

1.  In the event of termination of this Agreement, under the provisions of Article 36(4), air services operated at the date of its expiry under the provisions of Article 15 may continue until the end of the scheduling season into which that date of expiry falls.

2.  The rights and obligations acquired by undertakings by virtue of Articles 4 and 5 of this Agreement and of the rules of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 as included in the Annex to this Agreement, shall not be affected by the termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Article 36(4).

Article 36

1.  This Agreement shall be ratified or approved by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures. It shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the final notification of the deposit of the instruments of ratification or approval of all the following seven agreements:

2.  This Agreement shall be concluded for an initial period of seven years. It shall be renewed indefinitely unless the Community or Switzerland notifies the other Contracting Party to the contrary before the initial period expires. Where such notification is given, paragraph 4 shall apply.

3.  The Community or Switzerland may terminate this Agreement by notifying its decision to the other Contracting Party. Where such notification is given, paragraph 4 shall apply.

4.  The seven agreements referred to in paragraph 1 shall cease to be applicable six months after receipt of the notification of non-renewal, as referred to in paragraph 2, or of termination, as referred to in paragraph 3.

Hecho en Luxemburgo, el veintiuno de junio de mil novecientos noventa y nueve, en doble ejemplar en lenguas alemana, danesa, española, finesa, francesa, griega, inglesa, italiana, neerlandesa, portuguesa y sueca, siendo cada uno de estos textos igualmente auténtico.

Udfærdiget i Luxembourg, den enogtyvende juni nitten hundrede og nioghalvfems, i to eksemplarer på dansk, engelsk, finsk, fransk, græsk, italiensk, nederlandsk, portugisisk, spansk, svensk og tysk, idet hver af disse tekster har samme gyldighed.

Geschehen zu Luxemburg am einundzwanzigsten Juni neunzehnhundertneunundneunzig in zwei Urschriften in dänischer, deutscher, englischer, finnischer, französischer, griechischer, italienischer, niederländischer, portugiesischer, spanischer und schwedischer Sprache, wobei jeder dieser Wortlaute gleichermaßen verbindlich ist.

Έγινε στο Λουξεμβούργο, στις είκοσι μία Ιουνίου χίλια εννιακόσια ενενήντα εννέα, σε δύο αντίγραφα στην αγγλική, γαλλική, γερμανική, δανική, ελληνική, ισπανική, ιταλική, ολλανδική, πορτογαλική, σουηδική και φινλανδική γλώσσα· καθένα από τα κείμενα είναι εξίσου αυθεντικό.

Done at Luxembourg on the twenty-first day of June in the year one thousand and ninety-nine, in two copies in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of those texts being equally authentic.

Fait à Luxembourg, le vingt-et-un juin mil neuf cent quatre-vingt dix-neuf, en deux exemplaires en langues allemande, anglaise, danoise, espagnole, finnoise, française, grecque, italienne, néerlandaise, portugaise et suédoise, chacun de ces textes faisant également foi.

Fatto a Lussemburgo, addì ventuno giugno millenovecentonovantanove, in due copie, nelle lingue danese, finlandese, francese, greca, inglese, italiana, olandese, portoghese, spagnola, svedese e tedesca, ciascun testo facente ugualmente fede.

Gedaan te Luxemburg, de eenentwintigste juni negentienhonderd negenennegentig, in tweevoud, in de Deense, de Duitse, de Engelse, de Finse, de Franse, de Griekse, de Italiaanse, de Nederlandse, de Portugese, de Spaanse en de Zweedse taal, zijnde alle teksten gelijkelijk authentiek.

Feito em Luxemburgo, em vinte e um de Junho de mil novecentos e noventa e nove, em duplo exemplar nas línguas alemã, dinamarquesa, espanhola, finlandesa, francesa, grega, inglesa, italiana, neerlandesa, portuguesa e sueca, fazendo igualmente fé qualquer dos textos.

Tehty Luxemburgissa kahdentenakymmenentenäensimmäusenä päivänä kesäkuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäyhdeksän kahtena kappaleena englannin, espanjan, hollannin, italian, kreikan, portugalin, ranskan, ruotsin, saksan, suomen ja tanskan kielellä, ja jokainen teksti on yhtä todistuvsvoimainen.

Utfärdat i Luxemburg den tjugoförsta juni nittonhundranittionio i två exemplar på det danska, engelska, finska, franska, grekiska, italienska, nederländska, portugisiska, spanska, svenska och tyska språket, vilka samtliga texter är lika giltiga.

Por la Comunidad Europea

For Det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunità europea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

Por la Confederación Suiza

For Det Schweiziske Edsforbund

Für der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft

Για την Ελβετική Συνομοσπονδία

For the Swiss Confederation

Pour la Confédération suisse

Per la Confederazione svizzera

Voor de Zwitserse Bondsstaat

Pela Confederação Suíça

Sveitsin valaliiton puolesta

På Schweiziska Edsförbundets vägnar

▼M16

ANNEX

For the purposes of this Agreement:

1.    Aviation liberalisation and other civil aviation rules

No 1008/2008

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community

No 2000/79

Council Directive of 27 November 2000 concerning the implementation of the European Agreement on the Organisation of Working Time of Mobile Workers in Civil Aviation concluded by the Association of European Airlines (AEA), the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) and the International Air Carrier Association (IACA)

No 93/104

Council Directive of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time, as amended by:

No 437/2003

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 February 2003 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of passengers, freight and mail by air

No 1358/2003

Commission Regulation of 31 July 2003 implementing Regulation (EC) No 437/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of passengers, freight and mail by air and amending Annexes I and II thereto

No 785/2004

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on insurance requirements for air carriers and aircraft operators, as amended by:

No 95/93

Council Regulation of 18 January 1993 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports (Articles 1-12), as amended by:

No 2009/12

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on airport charges (to be applied by Switzerland as from 1 July 2011)

No 96/67

Council Directive of 15 October 1996 on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports

(Articles 1-9, 11-23, and 25)

No 80/2009

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 January 2009 on a Code of Conduct for computerised reservation systems and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2299/89

2.    Competition rules

No 3975/87

Council Regulation of 14 December 1987 laying down the procedures for the application of the rules on competition to undertakings in the air transport sector (Article 6(3)), as last amended by:

No 1/2003

Council Regulation of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (Articles 1-13, 15-45)

(To the extent that this Regulation is relevant for the application of this agreement. The insertion of this Regulation does not affect the division of tasks according to this agreement.)

Regulation (EEC) No 17/62 has been repealed by Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 with the exception of Article 8(3) which continues to apply to decisions adopted pursuant to Article 81(3) of the Treaty prior to the date of application of this Regulation until the date of expiration of those decisions.

No 773/2004

Commission Regulation of 7 April 2004 relating to proceedings by the Commission pursuant to Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty, as amended by:

No 139/2004

Council Regulation of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation)

(Article 1-18, 19(1)-(2), and 20-23)

With respect to Article 4(5) of the Merger Regulation the following shall apply between the European Community and Switzerland:

With respect to time limits referred to in Article 4(4) and (5), Article 9(2) and (6), and Article 22(2) of the Merger Regulation:

No 802/2004

Commission Regulation of 7 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (Articles 1-24), as amended by:

No 2006/111

Commission Directive of 16 November 2006 on the transparency of financial relations between Member States and public undertakings as well as on financial transparency within certain undertakings

No 487/2009

Council Regulation (EC) No 487/2009 of 25 May 2009 on the application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty to certain categories of agreements and concerted practices in the air transport sector

3.    Aviation safety

No 216/2008

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC, as amended by:

The Agency shall enjoy also in Switzerland the powers granted to it under the provisions of the Regulation.

The Commission shall enjoy also in Switzerland the powers granted to it for decisions pursuant to Article 11(2), Article 14(5) and (7), Articles 24(5) and 25(1), Article 38(3)(i), Articles 39(1) and 40(3), Article 41(3) and (5), and Articles 42(4), 54(1) and 61(3).

Notwithstanding the horizontal adaptation provided for in the second indent of the Annex to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport, the references to the ‘Member States’ made in Article 65 of the Regulation or in the provisions of Decision 1999/468/EC mentioned in that provision shall not be understood to apply to Switzerland.

Nothing in this Regulation shall be construed so as to transfer to the EASA authority to act on behalf of Switzerland under international agreements for other purposes than to assist in the performance of its obligations pursuant to such agreements.

The text of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptations:

No 1108/2009

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 in the field of aerodromes, air traffic management and air navigation services and repealing Directive 2006/23/EC

No 1178/2011

Commission Regulation of 3 November 2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

No 91/670

Council Directive of 16 December 1991 on mutual acceptance of personnel licences for the exercise of functions in civil aviation

(Articles 1-8)

No 3922/91

Council Regulation of 16 December 1991 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (Articles 1-3, Article 4(2), Articles 5-11, and Article 13), as amended by:

No 996/2010

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation and repealing Directive 94/56/EC

No 2004/36

Directive of the Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the safety of third-country aircraft using Community airports (Articles 1-9, and 11-14), as last amended by:

No 351/2008

Commission Regulation of 16 April 2008 implementing Directive 2004/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the prioritisation of ramp inspections on aircraft using Community airports

No 768/2006

Commission Regulation of 19 May 2006 implementing Directive 2004/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the collection and exchange of information on the safety of aircraft using Community airports and the management of the information system

No 2003/42

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2003 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation (Articles 1-12)

No 1321/2007

Commission Regulation of 12 November 2007 laying down implementing rules for the integration into a central repository of information on civil aviation occurrences exchanged in accordance with Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

No 1330/2007

Commission Regulation of 24 September 2007 laying down implementing rules for the dissemination to interested parties of information on civil aviation occurrences referred to in Article 7(2) of Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

No 736/2006

Commission Regulation of 16 May 2006 on working methods of the European Aviation Safety Agency for conducting standardisation inspections

No 1702/2003

Commission Regulation of 24 September 2003 laying down implementing rules for the airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, as well as for the certification of design and production organisations, as amended by:

For the purposes of this Agreement, the provisions of the Regulation shall be read subject to the following adjustment:

Article 2 is amended as follows:

In paragraphs 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14, the date ‘28 September 2003’ shall be replaced by ‘the date of entry into force of the Decision of the Community/Switzerland Air Transport Committee which incorporates Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 into the Annex to the Regulation.’

No 2042/2003

Commission Regulation of 20 November 2003 on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks, as amended by:

No 104/2004

Commission Regulation of 22 January 2004 laying down rules on the organisation and composition of the Board of Appeal of the European Aviation Safety Agency

No 593/2007

Commission Regulation of 31 May 2007 on the fees and charges levied by the European Aviation Safety Agency, as last amended by:

No 2111/2005

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2005 on the establishment of a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the Community and on informing air transport passengers of the identity of the operating air carrier, and repealing Article 9 of Directive 2004/36/EC

No 473/2006

Commission Regulation of 22 March 2006 laying down implementing rules for the Community list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Community referred to in Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council

No 474/2006

Commission Regulation of 22 March 2006 establishing the Community list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Community referred to in Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as last amended by:

4.    Aviation Security

No 300/2008

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002

No 272/2009

Commission Regulation of 2 April 2009 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as amended by:

No 1254/2009

Commission Regulation (EU) of 18 December 2009 setting criteria to allow Member States to derogate from the common basic standards on civil aviation security and to adopt alternative security measures

No 18/2010

Commission Regulation (EU) of 8 January 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as far as specifications for national quality control programmes in the field of civil aviation security are concerned

No 72/2010

Commission Regulation (EU) of 26 January 2010 laying down procedures for conducting Commission inspections in the field of aviation security

No 185/2010

Commission Regulation (EU) of 4 March 2010 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security, as amended by:

No 2010/774

Commission Decision (EU) of 13 April 2010 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security containing information as referred to in point (a) of Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008, as amended by:

5.    Air traffic management

No 549/2004

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 laying down the framework for the creation of the single European sky (the Framework Regulation), as amended by:

The Commission shall enjoy in Switzerland the powers granted to it pursuant to Articles 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12.

Article 10 shall be amended as follows:

In paragraph 2, the words ‘at Community level’ should be replaced by the words ‘at Community level, involving Switzerland’.

Notwithstanding the horizontal adjustment referred to in the second indent of the Annex to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport, the references to the ‘Member States’ made in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 or in the provisions of Decision 1999/468/EC mentioned in that provision shall not be understood to apply to Switzerland.

No 550/2004

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the provision of air navigation services in the single European sky (the Service Provision Regulation), as amended by:

The Commission shall enjoy towards Switzerland the powers granted to it pursuant to Articles 9a, 9b, 15a, 16 and 17.

The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be amended as follows:

No 551/2004

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the organisation and use of the airspace in the single European sky (the Airspace Regulation), as amended by:

The Commission shall enjoy in Switzerland the powers granted to it pursuant to Articles 3a, 6 and 10.

No 552/2004

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (the Interoperability Regulation), as amended by:

The Commission shall enjoy in Switzerland the powers granted to it pursuant to Articles 4 and 7, and Article 10(3).

The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be amended as follows:

No 2096/2005

Commission Regulation of 20 December 2005 laying down common requirements for the provision of air navigation services, as amended by:

The Commission shall enjoy in Switzerland the powers granted to it pursuant to Article 9.

No 2150/2005

Commission Regulation of 23 December 2005 laying down common rules for the flexible use of airspace

No 1033/2006

Commission Regulation of 4 July 2006 laying down the requirements on procedures for flight plans in the pre-flight phase for the single European sky, as last amended by:

No 1032/2006

Commission Regulation of 6 July 2006 laying down requirements for automatic systems for the exchange of flight data for the purpose of notification, coordination and transfer of flights between air traffic control units, as last amended by:

No 1794/2006

Commission Regulation of 6 December 2006 laying down a common charging scheme for air navigation services (to be applied by Switzerland as from the entry into force of the relevant Swiss legislation but at the latest as from 1 January 2012), as last amended by:

No 2006/23

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on a Community air traffic controller licence

No 730/2006

Commission Regulation of 11 May 2006 on airspace classification and access of flights operated under visual flight rules above flight level 195

No 219/2007

Council Regulation of 27 February 2007 on the establishment of a Joint Undertaking to develop the new generation European air traffic management system (SESAR), as last amended by:

No 633/2007

Commission Regulation of 7 June 2007 laying down requirements for the application of a flight message transfer protocol used for the purpose of notification, coordination and transfer of flights between air traffic control units, as amended by:

No 1265/2007

Commission Regulation of 26 October 2007 laying down requirements on air-ground voice channel spacing for the single European sky

No 29/2009

Commission Regulation of 16 January 2009 laying down requirements on data link services for the single European sky

The text of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptation:

‘Switzerland UIR’ is added in Annex I, Part A.

No 262/2009

Commission Regulation of 30 March 2009 laying down requirements for the coordinated allocation and use of Mode S interrogator codes for the single European sky

No 73/2010

Commission Regulation of 26 January 2010 laying down requirements on the quality of aeronautical data and aeronautical information for the single European sky

No 255/2010

Commission Regulation of 25 March 2010 laying down common rules on air traffic flow management

No 691/2010

Commission Regulation of 29 July 2010 laying down a performance scheme for air navigation services and network functions and amending Regulation (EC) No 2096/2005 laying down common requirements for the provision of air navigation services

Corrective measures adopted by the Commission under Article 14 paragraph 3 of the Regulation are mandatory for Switzerland after having been adopted by a decision of the Joint Committee

No 2010/5134

Commission Decision of 29 July 2010 on the designation of the Performance Review Body of the single European sky

No 2010/5110

Commission Decision of 12 August 2010 on the designation of a functional airspace blocks system coordinator in the context of the single European sky

No 176/2011

Commission Regulation of 24 February 2011 on the information to be provided before the establishment and modification of a functional airspace block

No 2011/121

Commission Decision of 21 February 2011 setting the European Union-wide performance targets and alert thresholds for the provision of air navigation services for the years 2012 to 2014

No 677/2011

Commission Regulation of 7 July 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of air traffic management (ATM) network functions and amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2010

No 2011/4130

Commission Decision of 7 July 2011 on the nomination of the Network Manager for the air traffic management (ATM) network functions of the single European sky

6.    Environment and noise

No 2002/30

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 March 2002 on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Community airports (Articles 1-12, and 14-18)

(The amendments to Annex I, arising from Annex II, Chapter 8 (Transport policy), Section G (Air transport), point 2 of the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded, shall apply.)

No 89/629

Council Directive of 4 December 1989 on the limitation of noise emissions from civil subsonic jet aeroplanes

(Articles 1-8)

No 2006/93/EC

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the regulation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Part II, Chapter 3, Volume 1 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, second edition (1988)

7.    Consumer protection

No 90/314

Council Directive of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours

(Articles 1-10)

No 93/13

Council Directive of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts

(Articles 1-11)

No 2027/97

Council Regulation of 9 October 1997 on air carrier liability in the event of accidents (Articles 1-8), as amended by:

No 261/2004

Regulation of the Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 295/91

(Articles 1-18)

No 1107/2006

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 concerning the right of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air

8.    Miscellaneous

No 2003/96

Council Directive of 27 October 2003 restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity

(Article 14(1)(b), and Article 14(2))

9.    Annexes

A

:

Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union

B

:

Provisions on financial control by the European Union as regards Swiss participants in activities of the EASA

ANNEX A

PROTOCOL ON THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,

CONSIDERING that, in accordance with Article 343 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 191 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (‘EAEC’), the European Union and the EAEC shall enjoy in the territories of the Member States such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the performance of their tasks,

HAVE AGREED upon the following provisions, which shall be annexed to the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community:

CHAPTER I

PROPERTY, FUNDS, ASSETS AND OPERATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Article 1

The premises and buildings of the Union shall be inviolable. They shall be exempt from search, requisition, confiscation or expropriation. The property and assets of the Union shall not be the subject of any administrative or legal measure of constraint without the authorisation of the Court of Justice.

Article 2

The archives of the Union shall be inviolable.

Article 3

The Union, its assets, revenues and other property shall be exempt from all direct taxes.

The governments of the Member States shall, wherever possible, take the appropriate measures to remit or refund the amount of indirect taxes or sales taxes included in the price of movable or immovable property, where the Union makes, for its official use, substantial purchases the price of which includes taxes of this kind. These provisions shall not be applied, however, so as to have the effect of distorting competition within the Union.

No exemption shall be granted in respect of taxes and dues which amount merely to charges for public utility services.

Article 4

The Union shall be exempt from all customs duties, prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of articles intended for its official use: articles so imported shall not be disposed of, whether or not in return for payment, in the territory of the country into which they have been imported, except under conditions approved by the government of that country.

The Union shall also be exempt from any customs duties and any prohibitions and restrictions on import and exports in respect of its publications.

CHAPTER II

COMMUNICATIONS AND LAISSEZ-PASSER

Article 5

For their official communications and the transmission of all their documents, the institutions of the Union shall enjoy in the territory of each Member State the treatment accorded by that State to diplomatic missions.

Official correspondence and other official communications of the institutions of the Union shall not be subject to censorship.

Article 6

Laissez-passer in a form to be prescribed by the Council, acting by a simple majority, which shall be recognised as valid travel documents by the authorities of the Member States, may be issued to members and servants of the institutions of the Union by the Presidents of these institutions. These laissez-passer shall be issued to officials and other servants under conditions laid down in the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.

The Commission may conclude agreements for these laissez-passer to be recognised as valid travel documents within the territory of third countries.

CHAPTER III

MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Article 7

No administrative or other restriction shall be imposed on the free movement of Members of the European Parliament travelling to or from the place of meeting of the European Parliament.

Members of the European Parliament shall, in respect of customs and exchange control, be accorded:

Article 8

Members of the European Parliament shall not be subject to any form of inquiry, detention or legal proceedings in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast by them in the performance of their duties.

Article 9

During the sessions of the European Parliament, its Members shall enjoy:

Immunity shall likewise apply to Members while they are travelling to and from the place of meeting of the European Parliament.

Immunity cannot be claimed when a Member is found in the act of committing an offence and shall not prevent the European Parliament from exercising its right to waive the immunity of one of its Members.

CHAPTER IV

REPRESENTATIVES OF MEMBER STATES TAKING PART IN THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Article 10

Representatives of Member States taking part in the work of the institutions of the Union, their advisers and technical experts shall, in the performance of their duties and during their travel to and from the place of meeting, enjoy the customary privileges, immunities and facilities.

This Article shall also apply to members of the advisory bodies of the Union.

CHAPTER V

OFFICIALS AND OTHER SERVANTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Article 11

In the territory of each Member State and whatever their nationality, officials and other servants of the Union shall:

Article 12

Officials and other servants of the Union shall be liable to a tax for the benefit of the Union on salaries, wages and emoluments paid to them by the Union, in accordance with the conditions and procedure laid down by the European Parliament and the Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consultation of the institutions concerned.

They shall be exempt from national taxes on salaries, wages and emoluments paid by the Union.

Article 13

In the application of income tax, wealth tax and death duties and in the application of conventions on the avoidance of double taxation concluded between Member States of the Union, officials and other servants of the Union who, solely by reason of the performance of their duties in the service of the Union, establish their residence in the territory of a Member State other than their country of domicile for tax purposes at the time of entering the service of the Union, shall be considered, both in the country of their actual residence and in the country of domicile for tax purposes, as having maintained their domicile in the latter country provided that it is a member of the Union. This provision shall also apply to a spouse, to the extent that the latter is not separately engaged in a gainful occupation, and to children dependent on and in the care of the persons referred to in this Article.

Movable property belonging to persons referred to in the preceding paragraph and situated in the territory of the country where they are staying shall be exempt from death duties in that country; such property shall, for the assessment of such duty, be considered as being in the country of domicile for tax purposes, subject to the rights of third countries and to the possible application of provisions of international conventions on double taxation.

Any domicile acquired solely by reason of the performance of duties in the service of other international organisations shall not be taken into consideration in applying the provisions of this Article.

Article 14

The European Parliament and the Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consultation of the institutions concerned, shall lay down the scheme of social security benefits for officials and other servants of the Union.

Article 15

The European Parliament and the Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, and after consulting the other institutions concerned, shall determine the categories of officials and other servants of the Union to whom the provisions of Article 11, the second paragraph of Article 12, and Article 13 shall apply, in whole or in part.

The names, grades and addresses of officials and other servants included in such categories shall be communicated periodically to the governments of the Member States.

CHAPTER VI

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF MISSIONS OF THIRD COUNTRIES ACCREDITED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Article 16

The Member State in whose territory the Union has its seat shall accord the customary diplomatic immunities and privileges to missions of third countries accredited to the Union.

CHAPTER VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 17

Privileges, immunities and facilities shall be accorded to officials and other servants of the Union solely in the interests of the Union.

Each institution of the Union shall be required to waive the immunity accorded to an official or other servant wherever that institution considers that the waiver of such immunity is not contrary to the interests of the Union.

Article 18

The institutions of the Union shall, for the purpose of applying this Protocol, cooperate with the responsible authorities of the Member States concerned.

Article 19

Articles 11 to 14 and Article 17 shall apply to Members of the Commission.

Article 20

Articles 11 to 14 and Article 17 shall apply to the Judges, the Advocates-General, the Registrars and the Assistant Rapporteurs of the Court of Justice of the European Union, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 3 of the Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union relating to immunity from legal proceedings of Judges and Advocates-General.

Article 21

This Protocol shall also apply to the European Investment Bank, to the members of its organs, to its staff and to the representatives of the Member States taking part in its activities, without prejudice to the provisions of the Protocol on the Statute of the Bank.

The European Investment Bank shall in addition be exempt from any form of taxation or imposition of a like nature on the occasion of any increase in its capital and from the various formalities which may be connected therewith in the State where the Bank has its seat. Similarly, its dissolution or liquidation shall not give rise to any imposition. Finally, the activities of the Bank and of its organs carried on in accordance with its Statute shall not be subject to any turnover tax.

Article 22

This Protocol shall also apply to the European Central Bank, to the members of its organs and to its staff, without prejudice to the provisions of the Protocol on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and the European Central Bank.

The European Central Bank shall, in addition, be exempt from any form of taxation or imposition of a like nature on the occasion of any increase in its capital and from the various formalities which may be connected therewith in the State where the bank has its seat. The activities of the Bank and of its organs carried on in accordance with the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank shall not be subject to any turnover tax.

Appendix

PROCEDURES FOR THE APPLICATION IN SWITZERLAND OF THE PROTOCOL ON PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

1.   Extension of application to Switzerland

Wherever the Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Union (hereinafter called ‘the Protocol’) contains references to Member States, the references are to be understood to apply equally to Switzerland, unless the following provisions determine otherwise.

2.   Exemption of the Agency from indirect taxation (including VAT)

Goods and services exported from Switzerland are not to be subject to Swiss value added tax (VAT). In the case of goods and services provided to the Agency in Switzerland for its official use, in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 3 of the Protocol, exemption from VAT is by way of refund. Exemption from VAT shall be granted if the actual purchase price of the goods and services mentioned in the invoice or equivalent document totals at least 100 Swiss francs (inclusive of tax).

The VAT refund is to be granted on presentation to the Federal Tax Administration’s VAT Main Division of the Swiss forms provided for the purpose. As a rule, refund applications must be processed within the three months following the date on which they were lodged together with the necessary supporting documents.

3.   Procedures for the application of the rules relating to the Agency’s staff

As regards the second paragraph of Article 12 of the Protocol, Switzerland shall exempt, according to the principles of its national law, officials and other servants of the Agency within the meaning of Article 2 of Council Regulation (Euratom, ECSC, EEC) No 549/69 ( 3 ) from federal, cantonal and communal taxes on salaries, wages and emoluments paid to them by the European Union and subject to an internal tax for its own benefit.

Switzerland shall not be considered as a Member State within the meaning of point 1 above for the application of Article 13 of the Protocol.

Officials and other servants of the Agency and members of their families who are members of the social insurance system applicable to officials and other servants of the European Union are not obliged to be members of the Swiss social security system.

The Court of Justice of the European Union shall have exclusive jurisdiction in any matters concerning relations between the Agency or the Commission and its staff with regard to the application of Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 ( 4 ) and the other provisions of the European Union law laying down working conditions.

ANNEX B

FINANCIAL CONTROL AS REGARDS SWISS PARTICIPANTS IN ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN AVIATION AGREEMENT

Article 1

Direct communication

The Agency and the Commission shall communicate directly with all persons or entities established in Switzerland and participating in activities of the Agency, as contractors, participants in Agency programmes, recipients of payments from the Agency or the Community budget, or subcontractors. Such persons may send directly to the Commission and to the Agency all relevant information and documentation which they are required to submit on the basis of the instruments referred to in this Decision and of contracts or agreements concluded and any decisions taken pursuant to them.

Article 2

Checks

1.  In accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities ( 5 ) and the Financial Regulation adopted by the Management Board of the Agency on 26 March 2003, with Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2343/2002 of 23 December 2002 on the framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities ( 6 ) and with the other instruments referred to in this Decision, contracts or agreements concluded and decisions taken with beneficiaries established in Switzerland may provide for scientific, financial, technological or other audits to be conducted at any time on the premises of the beneficiaries and of their subcontractors by Agency and Commission officials or by other persons mandated by the Agency and the Commission.

2.  Agency and Commission officials and other persons mandated by the Agency and the Commission shall have appropriate access to sites, works and documents and to all the information required in order to carry out such audits, including in electronic form. This right of access shall be stated explicitly in the contracts or agreements concluded to implement the instruments referred to in this Decision.

3.  The European Court of Auditors is to have the same rights as the Commission.

4.  The audits may take place until five years after the expiry of this Decision or under the terms of the contracts or agreements concluded and the decisions taken.

5.  The Swiss Federal Audit Office is to be informed in advance of audits conducted on Swiss territory. This information will not be a legal condition for carrying out such audits.

Article 3

On-the-spot checks

1.  Under this Agreement, the Commission (OLAF) is authorised to carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections on Swiss territory, under the terms and conditions set out in Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities. ( 7 )

2.  On-the-spot checks and inspections shall be prepared and conducted by the Commission in close cooperation with the Swiss Federal Audit Office or with other competent Swiss authorities appointed by the Swiss Federal Audit Office, which shall be notified in good time of the object, purpose and legal basis of the checks and inspections, so that they can provide all the requisite help. To that end, the officials of the competent Swiss authorities may participate in the on-the-spot checks and inspections.

3.  If the Swiss competent authorities concerned so wish, the on-the-spot checks and inspections may be carried out jointly by the Commission and the Swiss competent authorities.

4.  Where the participants in the programme resist an on-the-spot check or inspection, the Swiss authorities, acting in accordance with national rules, shall give the Commission inspectors such assistance as they need to allow them to discharge their duty in carrying out an on-the-spot check or inspection.

5.  The Commission shall report as soon as possible to the Swiss Federal Audit Office any fact or suspicion relating to an irregularity which has come to its notice in the course of the on-the-spot check or inspection. In any event the Commission is required to inform the aforementioned authority of the result of such checks and inspections.

Article 4

Information and consultation

1.  For the purposes of proper implementation of this Annex, the competent Swiss and Community authorities shall exchange information regularly and, at the request of one of the Parties, shall conduct consultations.

2.  The competent Swiss authorities shall inform the Agency and the Commission without delay of any fact or suspicion which has come to their notice relating to an irregularity in connection with the conclusion and implementation of the contracts or agreements concluded in application of the instruments referred to in this Decision.

Article 5

Confidentiality

Information communicated or acquired in any form whatsoever pursuant to this Annex will be covered by professional confidentiality and protected in the same way as similar information is protected by the national legislation of Switzerland and by the corresponding provisions applicable to the Community institutions. Such information shall not be communicated to persons other than those within the Community institutions, in the Member States, or in Switzerland whose functions require them to know it, nor may it be used for purposes other than to ensure effective protection of the financial interests of the Contracting Parties.

Article 6

Administrative measures and penalties

Without prejudice to application of Swiss criminal law, administrative measures and penalties may be imposed by the Agency or the Commission in accordance with Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 and with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities’ financial interests. ( 8 )

Article 7

Recovery and enforcement

Decisions taken by the Agency or the Commission within the scope of this Decision which impose a pecuniary obligation on persons other than States shall be enforceable in Switzerland.

The enforcement order must be issued, without any further control than verification of the authenticity of the act, by the authority designated by the Swiss government, which must inform the Agency or the Commission thereof. Enforcement must take place in accordance with the Swiss rules of procedure. The legality of the enforcement decision is subject to control by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Judgments given by the Court of Justice of the European Union pursuant to an arbitration clause are enforceable on the same terms.

▼B

FINAL ACT

They also took note of the following Declarations annexed to this Final Act:

Hecho en Luxemburgo, el ventiuno de junio de mil novecientos noventa y nueve.

Udfærdiget i Luxembourg den enogtyvende juni nitten hundrede og nioghalvfems.

Geschehen zu Luxemburg am einundzwanzigsten Juni neunzehnhundertneunundneunzig.

Έγινε στο Λουξεμβούργο, στις είκοσι μία Ιουνίου χίλια εννιακόσια ενενήντα εννέα.

Done at Luxembourg on the twenty-first day of June in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.

Fait à Luxembourg, le vingt-et-un juin mil neuf cent quatre-vingt dix-neuf.

Fatto a Lussemburgo, addì ventuno giugno millenovecentonovantanove.

Gedaan te Luxemburg, de eenentwintigste juni negentienhonderd negenennegentig.

Feito em Luxemburgo, em vinte e um de Junho de mil novecentos e noventa e nove.

Tehty Luxemburgissa kahdentenakymmenentenäensimmäisenä päivänä kesäkuuta vuonna tuhatyhdeksänsataayhdeksänkymmentäyhdeksän.

Som skedde i Luxemburg den tjugoförsta juni nittonhundranittionio.

Por la Comunidad Europea

For Det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunità europea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

Por la Confederación Suiza

For Det Schweiziske Edsforbund

Für der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft

Για την Ελβετική Συνομοσπονδία

For the Swiss Confederation

Pour la Confédération suisse

Per la Confederazione svizzera

Voor de Zwitserse Bondsstaat

Pela Confederação Suíça

Sveitsin valaliiton puolesta

På Schweiziska Edsförbundets vägnar

JOINT DECLARATION

on Agreements with Third Countries

The Contracting Parties acknowledge that it is desirable to take the steps necessary to ensure coherence between their mutual air transport relations and other wider air transport agreements based on the same principles.

JOINT DECLARATION

on Further Negotiations

The European Community and the Swiss Confederation declare their intention of undertaking negotiations to conclude agreements in areas of common interest such as the updating of Protocol 2 to the 1972 Free Trade Agreement and Swiss participation in certain Community training, youth, media, statistical and environmental programmes. Preparatory work for these negotiations should proceed rapidly once the current bilateral negotiations have been concluded.

DECLARATION

on Swiss Attendance of Committees

The Council agrees that Switzerland's representatives may, insofar as the items concern them, attend meetings of the following committees and expert working parties as observers:

Switzerland's representatives shall not be present when these committees vote.

In the case of other committees dealing with areas covered by these agreements in which Switzerland has adopted either the acquis communautaire or equivalent measures, the Commission will consult Swiss experts by the method specified in Article 100 of the EEA Agreement.

DECLARATION BY SWITZERLAND

on a Possible Amendment to the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Communities

The Swiss Government indicates its expectation that, if the Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice of the European Communities were to be amended in order to permit lawyers entitled to plead before the courts of States parties to a similar agreement as the present to plead before the Court of Justice of the European Communities, such amendment would also include the possibility for Swiss lawyers practising before the Swiss courts to plead before the Court of Justice of the European Communities in relation to the questions referred to that Court pursuant to this Agreement.

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( 1 ) OJ L 243, 27.9.2003, p. 6.

( 2 ) This Regulation shall apply in Switzerland as long as it is in force in the EU.

( 3 ) Regulation (Euratom, ECSC, EEC) No 549/69 of the Council of 25 March 1969 determining the categories of officials and other servants of the European Communities to whom the provisions of Article 12, the second paragraph of Article 13 and Article 14 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Communities apply (OJ L 74, 27.3.1969, p. 1). Regulation last amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1749/2002 (OJ L 264, 2.10.2002, p. 13).

( 4 ) Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 of the Council of 29 February 1968 laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities and instituting special measures temporarily applicable to officials of the Commission (Conditions of Employment of Other Servants) (OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1). Regulation last amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2104/2005 (OJ L 337, 22.12.2005, p. 7).

( 5 ) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

( 6 ) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 72.

( 7 ) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.

( 8 ) OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.