(1)

Pursuant to Article 11(3) of the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods (‘the Convention’) the Joint Committee established by that Convention is to adopt, by decision, invitations to third countries to accede to that Convention.

(2)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (‘the United Kingdom’) has expressed its wish to accede to the Convention as a separate Contracting Party from the date the Convention no longer applies to and in the United Kingdom.

(3)

The exchange of goods with the United Kingdom would be facilitated by a simplification of formalities which affect the trade between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the Republic of Iceland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Serbia, the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Turkey.

(4)

With a view to achieving such facilitation, it is appropriate to invite the United Kingdom to accede to the Convention.

(5)

The accession of the United Kingdom to the Convention should be effective only as from the date the Convention no longer applies to the United Kingdom as a Member State of the European Union or, should the European Union and the United Kingdom agree on transitional arrangements whereby the Convention would apply to and in the United Kingdom, as from the date these transitional arrangements cease to apply,