(1)

The International Coffee Agreement (‘ICA’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision 2008/579/EC (1) and entered into force on 2 February 2011.

(2)

Pursuant to Article 48(1) of the ICA, the ICA is to remain in force for a period of 10 years after it enters into force provisionally or definitively unless extended or terminated in accordance with that Article.

(3)

Pursuant to Article 9 of the ICA, the International Coffee Council (‘ICC’), as the highest authority of the International Coffee Organization (‘ICO’), is the body responsible for the performance of all functions necessary to carry out the provisions of the ICA. Pursuant to Article 48(3) of the ICA, the ICC may decide to extend the ICA beyond its expiry date for one or more successive periods not to exceed eight years in total.

(4)

On 11 September 2020, during its 127th session, the ICC approved Resolution 471 extending the ICA for one year.

(5)

Given the importance of the coffee sector for a number of Member States and for the economy of the Union, it is in the Union’s interests to be able to participate in the ICA until the provisional or definitive entry into force of a new agreement.

(6)

It is appropriate to establish the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf within the ICC, as the ICC’s decisions on the extension of the ICA are binding on the Union.

(7)

Pursuant to Article 48(3) of the ICA, the Union could object to the ICC’s decision on the extension of the ICA before its expiry,

(a)

not to object to the ICC’s decision to extend the ICA for one year as set out in Resolution 471 as approved at the 127th session of the ICC,

(b)

if needed, at the following sessions of the ICC, to vote in favour of extensions of the ICA for periods not exceeding eight years in total beyond the original expiry date of the ICA or until the provisional or definitive entry into force of a new agreement, whichever comes first.