(1)

The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) entered into force on 29 January 1968. The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN) entered into force on 28 February 2008.

(2)

The Union is not a Contracting Party to the ADR or to the ADN.

(3)

All Member States are Contracting Parties to and apply the ADR, and 13 Member States are Contracting Parties to and apply the ADN.

(4)

Pursuant to Article 14 of the ADR, any Contracting Party can propose one or more amendments to the Annexes to that Agreement. The Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (WP.15) can adopt amendments to the Annexes to the ADR. Pursuant to Article 20 of the ADN, the Safety Committee and Administrative Committee can adopt amendments to the Regulations annexed to the ADN.

(5)

The amendments adopted during the 2018–2020 biennium by WP.15 and the ADN Administrative Committee on the transport of dangerous goods by road and inland waterways were notified to the ADR and ADN Contracting Parties on 1 July 2020.

(6)

It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf as regards those amendments to the ADR and the ADN, as those acts will be capable of decisively influencing the content of Union law, namely Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (1). That Directive lays down requirements for the transport of dangerous goods by road, rail or inland waterways within or between Member States by referring to the ADR and the ADN. Article 4 of Directive 2008/68/EC provides that the transport of dangerous goods between Member States and third countries shall be authorised in so far as it complies with the requirements of the ADR, the Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) set out in Appendix C to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) and the ADN, unless otherwise indicated in the Annexes to that Directive. Moreover, under Article 8 of Directive 2008/68/EC, the Commission is empowered to adapt Section I.1 of Annex I and Section III.1 of Annex III to that Directive to scientific and technical progress, in particular to take account of amendments to the ADR, the RID and the ADN.

(7)

The amendments adopted concern technical standards or uniform technical prescriptions, with the objective of ensuring the safe and efficient transport of dangerous goods whilst taking into account scientific and technical progress in the sector and the development of new substances and articles that pose a danger during their transport. The development of the transport of dangerous goods by road and inland waterways, both within the Union and between the Union and its neighbouring countries, is a key component of the common transport policy and ensures the proper functioning of all industrial branches producing or making use of goods classified as dangerous under the ADR and the ADN.

(8)

Technical consensus on the amendments to the Annexes to the ADR and to the Regulations annexed to the ADN covered by this Decision has been reached in WP.15 and the ADN Administrative Committee respectively.

(9)

The amendments adopted are justified and beneficial, and should therefore be supported by the Union.

(10)

The Union’s position should be expressed by the Member States of the Union that are Contracting Parties to the ADR and the ADN, acting jointly in the interest of the Union,

(1)

The ongoing Union engagement in peace and security on the African continent under the African Peace Facility (APF) should be sustained until the end of June 2021 or until the expiration of the application of the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part (2), as last amended (the ‘ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’), whichever comes first.

(2)

APF financial requirements for the period from January to June 2021 are estimated at EUR 113 000 000.

(3)

It is appropriate to use decommitted funds from projects under the 10th European Development Fund (the ‘10th EDF’) to ensure the financing of the APF until the end of June 2021 or until the expiration of the application of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, whichever comes first. Those additional funds should finance support to African-led Peace Support Operations.

(4)

The funds should be used in accordance with the relevant APF multiannual action programme and with the rules and procedures applicable to the 11th European Development Fund (the ‘11th EDF’), as set out in Council Regulations (EU) 2015/322 (3) and (EU) 2018/1877 (4).

(5)

Reused 10th EDF funds, previously not committed in accordance with Article 1(3) of the 11th EDF Internal Agreement or decommitted in accordance with Article 1(4) of that Agreement, shall remain a resource of the 10th EDF under point (a) of Article 1(2) of the 10th EDF Internal Agreement (5),