COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2023/911

of 28 September 2021

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of a Protocol to the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) regarding the international regular and special regular carriage of passengers by coach and bus

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91, in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2020/1705 (1), the Protocol to the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) regarding the international regular and special regular carriage of passengers by coach and bus (the ‘Protocol’) was open for signature between 23 October 2020 and 23 October 2022, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2)	The Protocol should facilitate the provision of the international regular and special regular carriage of passengers by coach and bus between the Contracting Parties to the Interbus Agreement (‘Contracting Parties’) and therefore give rise to improved passenger transport links between them.

(3)	In order to facilitate the application of the Protocol, and in particular the operation of the Joint Committee established by Article 18 thereof, the Protocol largely mirrors the provisions established by the Interbus Agreement.

(4)	In order for its benefits not to be excessively delayed, the Protocol provides for its entry into force, for the Contracting Parties that have signed and approved or ratified it, when three Contracting Parties, including the Union, have signed and approved or ratified it.

(5)	Therefore, the Protocol should be approved on behalf of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol to the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) regarding the international regular and special regular carriage of passengers by coach and bus, that replaces the Protocol to the Interbus Agreement which was open for signature between 16 July 2018 and 16 April 2019, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (2).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall designate the person(s) empowered to deposit, on behalf of the Union, the instrument of approval or ratification provided for in Article 20(2) of the Protocol, in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Protocol.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption (3).

Done at Brussels, 28 September 2021.

For the Council

The President

E. SVANTESSON

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2020/1705 of 23 October 2020 on the signing of a Protocol to the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) regarding the international regular and special regular carriage of passengers by coach and bus (OJ L 385, 17.11.2020, p. 1).

(2) See page … of this Official Journal.

(3) The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.