(1)

In accordance with Council Decision 2002/917/EC (1), the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) (2) was concluded, on behalf of the Union, on 3 October 2002 and entered into force on 1 January 2003 (3).

(2)

On 5 December 2014, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a Protocol to the Interbus Agreement (the ‘Protocol’) with the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Republic of Turkey and Ukraine.

(3)

The negotiations were successfully concluded during the meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Interbus Agreement on 10 November 2017.

(4)

The Protocol should facilitate the provision of regular and special regular services between the Contracting Parties to the Interbus Agreement and hence give rise to improved passenger transport links between them.

(5)

As regards general rules, notably the operation of the Joint Committee, and in order to facilitate its application, the draft Protocol largely mirrors the rules established in the Interbus Agreement.

(6)

In order for its benefits not to be excessively delayed and similarly to what the Interbus Agreement stipulates, the Protocol provides for its entry into force, for the Contracting Parties that have approved or ratified it, when four Contracting Parties, including the Union, have approved or ratified it.

(7)

Therefore, the Protocol should be signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date,