22000A1215(01)

Annex to Decision No 1/2000 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers of 27 July 2000 on transitional measures valid from 2 august 2000 until the entry into force of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement(1)

(1) OJ L 195, 1.8.2000, p. 46.

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, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PREAMBLE

HAVING REGARD TO the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the one hand, and the Georgetown Agreement establishing the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), on the other;

AFFIRMING their commitment to work together towards the achievement of the objectives of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy;

ASSERTING their resolve to make, through their cooperation, a significant contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the ACP States and to the greater well-being of their population, helping them facing the challenges of globalisation and strengthening the ACP-EU Partnership in the effort to give the process of globalisation a stronger social dimension;

REAFFIRMING their willingness to revitalise their special relationship and to implement a comprehensive and integrated approach for a strengthened partnership based on political dialogue, development cooperation and economic and trade relations;

ACKNOWLEDGING that a political environment guaranteeing peace, security and stability, respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, and good governance is part and parcel of long term development; acknowledging that responsibility for establishing such an environment rests primarily with the countries concerned;

ACKNOWLEDGING that sound and sustainable economic policies are prerequisites for development;

REFERRING to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the conclusions of the 1993 Vienna Conference on Human Rights, the Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the other instruments of international humanitarian law, the 1954 Convention relating to the status of stateless persons, the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 New York Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees;

CONSIDERING the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of the Council of Europe, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the American Convention on Human Rights as positive regional contributions to the respect of human rights in the European Union and in the ACP States;

RECALLING the Libreville and Santo Domingo declarations of the Heads of State and Government of the ACP countries at their Summits in 1997 and 1999;

CONSIDERING that the development targets and principles agreed in United Nations Conferences and the target, set by the OECD Development Assistance Committee, to reduce by one half the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by the year 2015 provide a clear vision and must underpin ACP-EU cooperation within this Agreement;

PAYING particular attention to the pledges made at the Rio, Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome UN conferences and acknowledging the need for further action to be taken in order to achieve the goals and implement the action programmes which have been drawn up in those fora;

ANXIOUS to respect basic labour rights, taking account of the principles laid down in the relevant conventions of the International Labour Organisation;

RECALLING the commitments within the framework of the World Trade Organisation,

HAVE DECIDED TO CONCLUDE THIS AGREEMENT:

PART 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

TITLE I

OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND ACTORS

CHAPTER 1

Objectives and principles

Article 1

Objectives of the partnership

The Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the ACP States, of the other part, hereinafter referred to as the "Parties" hereby conclude this Agreement in order to promote and expedite the economic, cultural and social development of the ACP States, with a view to contributing to peace and security and to promoting a stable and democratic political environment.

The partnership shall be centred on the objective of reducing and eventually eradicating poverty consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy.

These objectives and the Parties' international commitments shall inform all development strategies and shall be tackled through an integrated approach taking account at the same time of the political, economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of development. The partnership shall provide a coherent support framework for the development strategies adopted by each ACP State.

Sustained economic growth, developing the private sector, increasing employment and improving access to productive resources shall all be part of this framework. Support shall be given to the respect of the rights of the individual and meeting basic needs, the promotion of social development and the conditions for an equitable distribution of the fruits of growth. Regional and sub-regional integration processes which foster the integration of the ACP countries into the world economy in terms of trade and private investment shall be encouraged and supported. Building the capacity of the actors in development and improving the institutional framework necessary for social cohesion, for the functioning of a democratic society and market economy, and for the emergence of an active and organised civil society shall be integral to the approach. Systematic account shall be taken of the situation of women and gender issues in all areas - political, economic and social. The principles of sustainable management of natural resources and the environment shall be applied and integrated at every level of the partnership.

Article 2

Fundamental principles

ACP-EC cooperation, underpinned by a legally binding system and the existence of joint institutions, shall be exercised on the basis of the following fundamental principles:

- equality of the partners and ownership of the development strategies: for the purposes of implementing the objectives of the partnership, the ACP States shall determine the development strategies for their economies and societies in all sovereignty and with due regard for the essential elements described in Article 9; the partnership shall encourage ownership of the development strategies by the countries and populations concerned;

- participation: apart from central government as the main partner, the partnership shall be open to different kinds of other actors in order to encourage the integration of all sections of society, including the private sector and civil society organisations, into the mainstream of political, economic and social life;

- the pivotal role of dialogue and the fulfilment of mutual obligations: the obligations assumed by the Parties in the framework of their dialogue shall be central to their partnership and cooperation relations;

- differentiation and regionalisation: cooperation arrangements and priorities shall vary according to a partner's level of development, its needs, its performance and its long-term development strategy. Particular emphasis shall be placed on the regional dimension. Special treatment shall be given to the least-developed countries. The vulnerability of landlocked and island countries shall be taken into account.

Article 3

Achievement of this Agreement's objectives

The Parties shall, each as far as it is concerned in the framework of this Agreement, take all appropriate measures, whether general or particular, to ensure the fulfilment of the obligations arising from this Agreement and to facilitate the attainment of the objectives thereof. They shall refrain from any measures liable to jeopardise these objectives.

CHAPTER 2

The actors of the partnership

Article 4

General approach

The ACP States shall determine the development principles, strategies and models of their economies and societies in all sovereignty. They shall establish, with the Community, the cooperation programmes provided for under this Agreement. However, the parties recognise the complementary role of and potential for contributions by non-State actors to the development process. To this end, under the conditions laid down in this Agreement, non-State actors shall, where appropriate:

- be informed and involved in consultation on cooperation policies and strategies, on priorities for cooperation especially in areas that concern or directly affect them, and on the political dialogue;

- be provided with financial resources, under the conditions laid down in this Agreement in order to support local development processes;

- be involved in the implementation of cooperation project and programmes in areas that concern them or where these actors have a comparative advantage;

- be provided with capacity-building support in critical areas in order to reinforce the capabilities of these actors, particularly as regards organisation and representation, and the establishment of consultation mechanisms including channels of communication and dialogue, and to promote strategic alliances.

Article 5

Information

Cooperation will support operation to provide more information and create greater awareness of the basic features of ACP-EU Partnership. Cooperation will also:

- encourage partnership and build links between ACP and EU actors;

- strengthen networking and exchange of expertise and experience among the actors.

Article 6

Definitions

1. The actors of cooperation will include:

(a) State (local, national and regional);

(b) Non-State:

- Private sector;

- Economic and social partners, including trade union organisations;

- Civil Society in all its forms according to national characteristics.

2. Recognition by the parties of non-governmental actors shall depend on the extent to which they address the needs of the population, on their specific competencies and whether they are organised and managed democratically and transparently.

Article 7

Capacity building

The contribution of civil society to development can be enhanced by strengthening community organisations and non-profit non-governmental organisations in all spheres of cooperation. This will require:

- encouraging and supporting the creation and development of such organisations;

- establishing arrangements for involving such organisations in the design, implementation and evaluation of development strategies and programmes.

TITLE II

THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

Article 8

Political dialogue

1. The Parties shall regularly engage in a comprehensive, balanced and deep political dialogue leading to commitments on both sides.

2. The objective of this dialogue shall be to exchange information, to foster mutual understanding, and to facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas, in particular by recognising existing links between the different aspects of the relations between the Parties and the various areas of cooperation as laid down in this Agreement. The dialogue shall facilitate consultations between the Parties within international fora. The objectives of the dialogue shall also include preventing situations arising in which one Party might deem it necessary to have recourse to the non-execution clause.

3. The dialogue shall cover all the aims and objectives laid down in this Agreement as well as all questions of common, general, regional or sub-regional interest. Through dialogue, the Parties shall contribute to peace, security and stability and promote a stable and democratic political environment. It shall encompass cooperation strategies as well as global and sectoral policies, including environment, gender, migration and questions related to the cultural heritage.

4. The dialogue shall focus, inter alia, on specific political issues of mutual concern or of general significance for the attainment of the objectives of this Agreement, such as the arms trade, excessive military expenditure, drugs and organised crime, or ethnic, religious or racial discrimination. The dialogue shall also encompass a regular assessment of the developments concerning the respect for human rights, democratic principles, the rule of law and good governance.

5. Broadly based policies to promote peace and to prevent, manage and resolve violent conflicts shall play a prominent role in this dialogue, as shall the need to take full account of the objective of peace and democratic stability in the definition of priority areas of cooperation.

6. The dialogue shall be conducted in a flexible manner. Dialogue shall be formal or informal according to the need, and conducted within and outside the institutional framework, in the appropriate format, and at the appropriate level including regional, sub-regional or national level.

7. Regional and sub-regional organisations as well as representatives of civil society organisations shall be associated with this dialogue.

Article 9

Essential Elements and Fundamental Element

1. Cooperation shall be directed towards sustainable development centred on the human person, who is the main protagonist and beneficiary of development; this entails respect for and promotion of all human rights.

Respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including respect for fundamental social rights, democracy based on the rule of law and transparent and accountable governance are an integral part of sustainable development.

2. The Parties refer to their international obligations and commitments concerning respect for human rights. They reiterate their deep attachment to human dignity and human rights, which are legitimate aspirations of individuals and peoples. Human rights are universal, indivisible and inter-related. The Parties undertake to promote and protect all fundamental freedoms and human rights, be they civil and political, or economic, social and cultural. In this context, the Parties reaffirm the equality of men and women.

The Parties reaffirm that democratisation, development and the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. Democratic principles are universally recognised principles underpinning the organisation of the State to ensure the legitimacy of its authority, the legality of its actions reflected in its constitutional, legislative and regulatory system, and the existence of participatory mechanisms. On the basis of universally recognised principles, each country develops its democratic culture.

The structure of government and the prerogatives of the different powers shall be founded on rule of law, which shall entail in particular effective and accessible means of legal redress, an independent legal system guaranteeing equality before the law and an executive that is fully subject to the law.

Respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, which underpin the ACP-EU Partnership, shall underpin the domestic and international policies of the Parties and constitute the essential elements of this Agreement.

3. In the context of a political and institutional environment that upholds human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, good governance is the transparent and accountable management of human, natural, economic and financial resources for the purposes of equitable and sustainable development. It entails clear decision-making procedures at the level of public authorities, transparent and accountable institutions, the primacy of law in the management and distribution of resources and capacity building for elaborating and implementing measures aiming in particular at preventing and combating corruption.

Good governance, which underpins the ACP-EU Partnership, shall underpin the domestic and international policies of the Parties and constitute a fundamental element of this Agreement. The Parties agree that only serious cases of corruption, including acts of bribery leading to such corruption, as defined in Article 97 constitute a violation of that element.

4. The Partnership shall actively support the promotion of human rights, processes of democratisation, consolidation of the rule of law, and good governance.

These areas will be an important subject for the political dialogue. In the context of this dialogue, the Parties shall attach particular importance to the changes underway and to the continuity of the progress achieved. This regular assessment shall take into account each country's economic, social, cultural and historical context.

These areas will also be a focus of support for development strategies. The Community shall provide support for political, institutional and legal reforms and for building the capacity of public and private actors and civil society in the framework of strategies agreed jointly between the State concerned and the Community.

Article 10

Other elements of the political environment

1. The Parties consider the following elements as contributing to the maintenance and consolidation of a stable and democratic political environment:

- sustainable and equitable development involving, inter alia, access to productive resources, essential services and justice;

- greater involvement of an active and organised civil society and the private sector.

2. The Parties recognise that the principles of the market economy, supported by transparent competition rules and sound economic and social policies, contribute to achieving the objectives of the partnership.

Article 11

Peace-building policies, conflict prevention and resolution

1. The Parties shall pursue an active, comprehensive and integrated policy of peace-building and conflict prevention and resolution within the framework of the Partnership. This policy shall be based on the principle of ownership. It shall in particular focus on building regional, sub-regional and national capacities, and on preventing violent conflicts at an early stage by addressing their root-causes in a targeted manner, and with an adequate combination of all available instruments.

2. The activities in the field of peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution shall in particular include support for balancing political, economic, social and cultural opportunities among all segments of society, for strengthening the democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of governance, for establishing effective mechanisms for the peaceful conciliation of group interests, for bridging dividing lines among different segments of society as well as support for an active and organised civil society.

3. Relevant activities shall also include, inter alia, support for mediation, negotiation and reconciliation efforts, for effective regional management of shared, scarce natural resources, for demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants into the society, for addressing the problem of child soldiers, as well as for suitable action to set responsible limits to military expenditure and the arms trade, including through support for the promotion and application of agreed standards and codes of conduct. In this context, particular emphasis shall be given to the fight against anti-personnel landmines as well as to addressing an excessive and uncontrolled spread, illegal trafficking and accumulation of small arms and light weapons.

4. In situations of violent conflict the Parties shall take all suitable action to prevent an intensification of violence, to limit its territorial spread, and to facilitate a peaceful settlement of the existing disputes. Particular attention shall be paid to ensuring that financial resources for cooperation are used in accordance with the principles and objectives of the Partnership, and to preventing a diversion of funds for belligerent purposes.

5. In post-conflict situations, the Parties shall take all suitable action to facilitate the return to a non-violent, stable and self-sustainable situation. The Parties shall ensure the creation of the necessary links between emergency measures, rehabilitation and development cooperation.

Article 12

Coherence of Community policies and their impact on the implementation of this Agreement

Without prejudice to Article 96, where the Community intends, in the exercise of its powers, to take a measure which might affect the interests of the ACP States, as far as this Agreement's objectives are concerned, it shall inform in good time the said States of its intentions. Towards this end, the Commission shall communicate simultaneously to the Secretariat of the ACP States its proposal for such measures. Where necessary, a request for information may also take place on the initiative of the ACP States.

At their request, consultations shall be held promptly so that account may be taken of their concerns as to the impact of those measures before any final decision is made.

After such consultations have taken place, the ACP States may, in addition, transmit their concerns in writing to the Community as soon as possible and submit suggestions for amendments indicating the way their concerns should be met.

If the Community does not accede to the ACP States' submissions, it shall advise them as soon as possible giving its reasons.

The ACP States shall also be provided with adequate information on the entry into force of such decisions, in advance whenever possible.

Article 13

Migration

1. The issue of migration shall be the subject of in-depth dialogue in the framework of the ACP-EU Partnership.

The Parties reaffirm their existing obligations and commitments in international law to ensure respect for human rights and to eliminate all forms of discrimination based particularly on origin, sex, race, language and religion.

2. The Parties agree to consider that a partnership implies, with relation to migration, fair treatment of third country nationals who reside legally on their territories, integration policy aiming at granting them rights and obligations comparable to those of their citizens, enhancing non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural life and developing measures against racism and xenophobia.

3. The treatment accorded by each Member State to workers of ACP countries legally employed in its territory, shall be free from any discrimination based on nationality, as regards working conditions, remuneration and dismissal, relative to its own nationals. Further in this regard, each ACP State shall accord comparable non-discriminatory treatment to workers who are nationals of a Member State.

4. The Parties consider that strategies aiming at reducing poverty, improving living and working conditions, creating employment and developing training contribute in the long term to normalising migratory flows.

The Parties will take account, in the framework of development strategies and national and regional programming, of structural constraints associated with migratory flows with the purpose of supporting the economic and social development of the regions from which migrants originate and of reducing poverty.

The Community shall support, through national and regional Cooperation programmes, the training of ACP nationals in their country of origin, in another ACP country or in a Member State of the European Union. As regards training in a Member State, the Parties shall ensure that such action is geared towards the vocational integration of ACP nationals in their countries of origin.

The Parties shall develop cooperation programmes to facilitate the access of students from ACP States to education, in particular through the use of new communication technologies.

5. (a) In the framework of the political dialogue the Council of Ministers shall examine issues arising from illegal immigration with a view to establishing, where appropriate, the means for a prevention policy.

(b) In this context the Parties agree in particular to ensure that the rights and dignity of individuals are respected in any procedure initiated to return illegal immigrants to their countries of origin. In this connection the authorities concerned shall extend to them the administrative facilities necessary for their return.

(c) The Parties further agree that:

i) - each Member State of the European Union shall accept the return of and readmission of any of its nationals who are illegally present on the territory of an ACP State, at that State's request and without further formalities;

- each of the ACP States shall accept the return of and readmission of any of its nationals who are illegally present on the territory of a Member State of the European Union, at that Member State's request and without further formalities.

The Member States and the ACP States will provide their nationals with appropriate identity documents for such purposes.

In respect of the Member States of the European Union, the obligations in this paragraph apply only in respect of those persons who are to be considered their nationals for the Community purposes in accordance with Declaration No 2 to the Treaty establishing the European Community. In respect of ACP States, the obligations in this paragraph apply only in respect of those persons who are considered as their nationals in accordance with their respective legal system.

(ii) at the request of a Party, negotiations shall be initiated with ACP States aiming at concluding in good faith and with due regard for the relevant rules of international law, bilateral agreements governing specific obligations for the readmission and return of their nationals. These agreements shall also cover, if deemed necessary by any of the Parties, arrangements for the readmission of third country nationals and stateless persons. Such agreements will lay down the details about the categories of persons covered by these arrangements as well as the modalities of their readmission and return.

Adequate assistance to implement these agreements will be provided to the ACP States.

(iii) for the purposes of this point (c), the term "Parties" shall refer to the Community, any of its Member States and any ACP State.

PART 2

INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 14

The joint institutions

The institutions of this Agreement are the Council of Ministers, the Committee of Ambassadors and the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Article 15

The Council of Ministers

1. The Council of Ministers shall comprise, on the one hand, the members of the Council of the European Union and members of the Commission of the European Communities and, on the other, a member of the government of each ACP State.

The office of the President of the Council of Ministers shall be held alternately by a member of the Council of the European Union and a member of the government of an ACP State.

The Council shall meet as a rule once a year on the initiative of the President and whenever it seems necessary, in a form and a geographical composition appropriate to the issues to be addressed.

2. The functions of the Council of Ministers shall be to:

(a) conduct the political dialogue;

(b) adopt the policy guidelines and take the decisions necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, in particular as regards development strategies in the specific areas provided for by this Agreement or any other area that should prove relevant, and as regards procedures;

(c) examine and resolve any issue liable to impede the effective and efficient implementation of this Agreement or present an obstacle to achieving its objectives;

(d) ensure the smooth functioning of the consultation mechanisms.

3. The Council of Ministers shall take its decisions by common agreement of the Parties. The proceedings of the Council of Ministers shall be valid only if half the members of the Council of the European Union, one member of the Commission and two-thirds of the members representing the governments of the ACP States are present. Any member of the Council of Ministers unable to attend may be represented. The representative shall exercise all the rights of that member.

It may take decisions that are binding on the Parties and frame resolutions, recommendations and opinions. It shall examine and take into consideration resolutions and recommendations adopted by the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

The Council of Ministers shall conduct an ongoing dialogue with the representatives of the social and economic partners and other actors of civil society in the ACP and the EU. To that end, consultations may be held alongside its meetings.

4. The Council of Ministers may delegate powers to the Committee of Ambassadors.

5. The Council of Ministers shall adopt its rules of procedure within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 16

The Committee of Ambassadors

1. The Committee of Ambassadors shall comprise, on the one hand, the permanent representative of each Member State to the European Union and a representative of the Commission and, on the other, the head of mission of each ACP State to the European Union.

The office of Chairman of the Committee of Ambassadors shall be held alternately by a Permanent Representative of a Member State designated by the Community, and a head of mission representing an ACP State, designated by the ACP States.

2. The Committee shall assist the Council of Ministers in the fulfilment of its tasks and carry out any mandate entrusted to it by the Council. In this context, it shall monitor implementation of this Agreement and progress towards achieving the objectives set therein.

The Committee of Ambassadors shall meet regularly, in particular to prepare the Council sessions and whenever it proves necessary.

3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 17

The Joint Parliamentary Assembly

1. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall be composed of equal numbers of EU and ACP representatives. The members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall be, on the one hand, members of the European Parliament and, on the other, members of parliament or, failing this, representatives designated by the parliament of each ACP State. In the absence of a parliament, the attendance of a representative from the ACP State concerned shall be subject to the prior approval of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

2. The role of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly, as a consultative body, shall be to:

- promote democratic processes through dialogue and consultation;

- facilitate greater understanding between the peoples of the European Union and those of the ACP States and raise public awareness of development issues;

- discuss issues pertaining to development and the ACP-EU Partnership;

- adopt resolutions and make recommendations to the Council of Ministers with a view to achieving the objectives of this Agreement.

3. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall meet twice a year in plenary session, alternately in the European Union and in an ACP State. With a view to strengthening regional integration and fostering cooperation between national parliaments, meetings between EU and ACP members of parliament may be arranged at regional or subregional level.

The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall organise regular contacts with representatives of the ACP-EU economic and social partners and the other actors of civil society in order to obtain their views on the attainment of the objectives of this Agreement.

4. The Joint Parliamentary Assembly shall adopt its rules of procedure within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement.

PART 3

COOPERATION STRATEGIES

Article 18

The cooperation strategies shall be based on development strategies and economic and trade cooperation which are interlinked and complementary. The Parties shall ensure that the efforts undertaken in both aforementioned areas are mutually reinforcing.

TITLE I

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

CHAPTER 1

General framework

Article 19

Principles and objectives

1. The central objective of ACP-EC cooperation is poverty reduction and ultimately its eradication; sustainable development; and progressive integration of the ACP countries into the world economy. In this context, cooperation framework and orientations shall be tailored to the individual circumstances of each ACP country, shall promote local ownership of economic and social reforms and the integration of the private sector and civil society actors into the development process.

2. Cooperation shall refer to the conclusions of United Nations Conferences and to the objectives, targets and action programmes agreed at international level and to their follow up as a basis for development principles. Cooperation shall also refer to the international development cooperation targets and shall pay particular attention to putting in place qualitative and quantitative indicators of progress.

3. Governments and non-State actors in each ACP country shall initiate consultations on country development strategies and community support thereto.

Article 20

The Approach

1. The objectives of ACP-EC development cooperation shall be pursued through integrated strategies that incorporate economic, social, cultural, environmental and institutional elements that must be locally owned. Cooperation shall thus provide a coherent enabling framework of support to the ACP's own development strategies, ensuring complementarity and interaction between the various elements. In this context and within the framework of development policies and reforms pursued by the ACP States, ACP-EC cooperation strategies shall aim at:

(a) achieving rapid and sustained job-creating economic growth, developing the private sector, increasing employment, improving access to productive economic activities and resource, and fostering regional cooperation and integration;

(b) promoting human and social development helping to ensure that the fruits of growth are widely and equitably shared and promoting gender equality;

(c) promoting cultural values of communities and specific interactions with economic, political and social elements;

(d) promoting institutional reforms and development, strengthening the institutions necessary for the consolidation of democracy, good governance and for efficient and competitive market economies; and building capacity for development and partnership; and

(e) promoting environmental sustainability, regeneration and best practices, and the preservation of natural resource base.

2. Systematic account shall be taken in mainstreaming into all areas of cooperation the following thematic or cross-cutting themes: gender issues, environmental issues and institutional development and capacity building. These areas shall also be eligible for Community support.

3. The detailed texts as regards development cooperation objectives and strategies, in particular sectoral policies and strategies shall be incorporated in a compendium providing operational guidelines in specific areas or sectors of cooperation. These texts may be revised, reviewed and/or amended by the Council of Ministers on the basis of a recommendation from the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee.

CHAPTER 2

Areas of support

SECTION 1

Economic development

Article 21

Investment and private sector development

1. Cooperation shall support the necessary economic and institutional reforms and policies at national and/or regional level, aiming at creating a favourable environment for private investment, and the development of a dynamic, viable and competitive private sector. Cooperation shall further support:

(a) the promotion of public-private sector dialogue and cooperation;

(b) the development of entrepreneurial skills and business culture;

(c) privatisation and enterprise reform; and

(d) development and modernisation of mediation and arbitration systems.

2. Cooperation shall also support improving the quality, availability and accessibility of financial and non-financial services to private enterprises, both formal and informal; by:

(a) catalysing and leveraging flows of private savings, both domestic and foreign, into the financing of private enterprises by supporting policies for developing a modern financial sector including a capital market, financial institutions and sustainable microfinance operations;

(b) the development and strengthening of business institutions and intermediary organisations, associations, chambers of commerce and local providers from the private sector supporting and providing non-financial services to enterprises such as professional, technical, management, training and commercial support services; and

(c) supporting institutions, programmes, activities and initiatives that contribute to the development and transfer of technologies and know-how and best practices on all aspects of business management.

3. Cooperation shall promote business development through the provision of finance, guarantee facilities and technical support aimed at encouraging and supporting the creation, establishment, expansion, diversification, rehabilitation, restructuring, modernisation or privatisation of dynamic, viable and competitive enterprises in all economic sectors as well as financial intermediaries such as development finance and venture capital institutions, and leasing companies by:

(a) creating and/or strengthening financial instruments in the form of investment capital;

(b) improving access to essential inputs such as business information and advisory, consultancy or technical assistance services;

(c) enhancement of export activities, in particular through capacity building in all trade-related areas; and

(d) encouraging inter-firm linkages, networks and cooperation including those involving the transfer of technology and know-how at national, regional and ACP-EU levels, and partnerships with private foreign investors which are consistent with the objectives and guidelines of ACP-EC Development cooperation.

4. Cooperation shall support microenterprise development through better access to financial and non-financial services; an appropriate policy and regulatory framework for their development; and provide training and information services on best practices in microfinance.

5. Support for investment and private sector development shall integrate actions and initiatives at macro, meso and micro economic levels.

Article 22

Macroeconomic and structural reforms and policies

1. Cooperation shall support ACP efforts to implement:

(a) macroeconomic growth and stabilisation through disciplined fiscal and monetary policies that result in the reduction of inflation, and improve external and fiscal balances, by strengthening fiscal discipline, enhancing budgetary transparency and efficiency, improving the quality, the equity and composition of fiscal policy; and

(b) structural policies designed to reinforce the role of the different actors, especially the private sector and improve the environment for increases in business, investment and employment, as well as:

(i) liberalise trade and foreign exchange regimes and current account convertibility, having regard to the particular circumstances of each country;

(ii) strengthen labour and product-market reforms;

(iii) encourage financial systems reforms which help to develop viable banking and non-banking systems, capital markets and financial services, including micro-finance;

(iv) improve the quality of private and public services; and

(v) encourage regional cooperation and progressive integration of macroeconomic and monetary policies.

2. The design of macroeconomic policies and structural adjustment programmes shall reflect the socio-political background and institutional capacity of the countries concerned, ensure a positive impact on poverty reduction and social services access and shall be based on the following principles:

(a) the ACP States shall bear primary responsibility for the analysis of the problems to be solved, the design and the implementation of the reforms;

(b) support programmes shall be adapted to the different situation in each ACP State and be sensitive to the social conditions, culture and environment of these States;

(c) the right of the ACP States to determine the direction and the sequencing of their development strategies and priorities shall be recognised and respected;

(d) the pace of reforms shall be realistic and compatible with each ACP State's capacities and resources; and

(e) strengthening the communication and the information of populations on economic and social reforms and policies.

Article 23

Economic sector development

Cooperation shall support sustainable policy and institutional reforms and the investments necessary for equitable access to economic activities and productive resources, particularly:

(a) the development of training systems that help increase productivity in both the formal and the informal sectors;

(b) capital, credit, land, especially as regards property rights and use;

(c) development of rural strategies aimed at establishing a framework for participatory decentralised planning, resource allocation and management;

(d) agricultural production strategies, national and regional food security policies, sustainable development of water resources and fisheries as well as marine resources within the economic exclusive zones of the ACP States. Any fishery agreement that may be negotiated between the Community and the ACP States shall pay due consideration to consistency with the development strategies in this area;

(e) economic and technological infrastructure and services, including transport, telecommunication systems, communication services and the development of information society;

(f) development of competitive industrial, mining and energy sectors, while encouraging private sector involvement and development;

(g) trade development, including the promotion of fair trade;

(h) development of business, finance and banking; and other service sectors;

(i) tourism development; and

(j) development of scientific, technological and research infrastructure and services; including the enhancement, transfer and absorption of new technologies;

(k) the strengthening of capacities in productive areas, especially in public and private sectors.

Article 24

Tourism

Cooperation will aim at the sustainable development of the tourism industry in ACP countries and sub-regions, recognising its increasing importance to the growth of the services sector in ACP countries and to the expansion of their global trade, its ability to stimulate other sectors of economic activity, and the role it can play in poverty eradication.

Cooperation programmes and projects will support the efforts of ACP countries to establish and improve the countries legal and institutional framework and resources for the development and implementation of sustainable tourism policies and programmes, as well as inter alia, improving the competitive position of the sector, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), investment support and promotion, product development including the development of indigenous cultures in ACP countries, and strengthening linkages between tourism and other sectors of economic activity.

SECTION 2

Social and human development

Article 25

Social sector development

1. Cooperation shall support ACP States' efforts at developing general and sectoral policies and reforms which improve the coverage, quality of and access to basic social infrastructure and services and take account of local needs and specific demands of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, thus reducing the inequalities of access to these services. Special attention shall be paid to ensuring adequate levels of public spending in the social sectors. In this context, cooperation shall aim at:

(a) improving education and training, and building technical capacity and skills;

(b) improving health systems and nutrition, eliminating hunger and malnutrition, ensuring adequate food supply and security;

(c) integrating population issues into development strategies in order to improve reproductive health, primary health care, family planning; and prevention of female genital mutilation;

(d) promoting the fight against HIV/AIDS;

(e) increasing the security of household water and improving access to safe water and adequate sanitation;

(f) improving the availability of affordable and adequate shelter for all through supporting low-cost and low-income housing programs and improving urban development; and

(g) encouraging the promotion of participatory methods of social dialogue as well as respect for basic social rights.

2. Cooperation shall also support capacity-building in social areas such as programmes for training in the design of social policies and modern methods for managing social projects and programmes; policies conducive to technological innovation and research; building local expertise and promoting partnerships; and round-table discussions at national and/or regional level.

3. Cooperation shall promote and support the development and implementation of policies and of systems of social protection and security in order to enhance social cohesion and to promote self-help and community solidarity. The focus of the support shall, inter-alia, be on developing initiatives based on economic solidarity, particularly by setting-up social development funds adapted to local needs and actors.

Article 26

Youth issues

Cooperation shall also support the establishment of a coherent and comprehensive policy for realising the potential of youth so that they are better integrated into society to achieve their full potential. In this context, cooperation shall support policies, measures and operations aimed at:

(a) protecting the rights of children and youth, especially those of girl children;

(b) promoting the skills, energy, innovation and potential of youth in order to enhance their economic, social and cultural opportunities and enlarge their employment opportunities in the productive sector;

(c) helping community-based institutions to give children the opportunity to develop their physical, psychological, social and economic potential; and

(d) reintegrating into society children in post-conflict situations through rehabilitation programmes.

Article 27

Cultural development

Cooperation in the area of culture shall aim at:

(a) integrating the cultural dimension at all levels of development cooperation;

(b) recognising, preserving and promoting cultural values and identities to enable inter-cultural dialogue;

(c) recognising, preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage; supporting the development of capacity in this sector; and

(d) developing cultural industries and enhancing market access opportunities for cultural goods and services.

SECTION 3

Regional cooperation and integration

Article 28

General approach

Cooperation shall provide effective assistance to achieve the objectives and priorities which the ACP States have set themselves in the context of regional and sub-regional cooperation and integration, including inter-regional and intra-ACP cooperation. Regional Cooperation can also involve Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and outermost regions. In this context, cooperation support shall aim to:

(a) foster the gradual integration of the ACP States into the world economy;

(b) accelerate economic cooperation and development both within and between the regions of the ACP States;

(c) promote the free movement of persons, goods, services, capital, labour and technology among ACP countries;

(d) accelerate diversification of the economies of the ACP States; and coordination and harmonisation of regional and sub-regional cooperation policies; and

(e) promote and expand inter and intra-ACP trade and with third countries.

Article 29

Regional economic integration

Cooperation shall, in the area of regional economic integration, support:

(a) developing and strengthening the capacities of:

(i) regional integration institutions and organisations set up by the ACP States to promote regional cooperation and integration, and

(ii) national governments and parliaments in matters of regional integration;

(b) fostering participation of Least Developed Countries (LDC) ACP States in the establishment of regional markets and sharing the benefits therefrom;

(c) implementation of sectoral reform policies at regional level;

(d) liberalisation of trade and payments;

(e) promoting cross-border investments both foreign and domestic, and other regional or sub-regional economic integration initiatives; and

(f) taking account of the effects of net transitional costs of regional integration on budget revenue and balance of payments.

Article 30

Regional Cooperation

1. Cooperation shall, in the area of regional cooperation, support a wide variety of functional and thematic fields which specifically address common problems and take advantage of scale of economies, including:

(a) infrastructure particularly transport and communications and safety thereof and services, including the development of regional opportunities in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT);

(b) the environment; water resource management and energy;

(c) health, education and training;

(d) research and technological development;

(e) regional initiatives for disaster preparedness and mitigation; and

(f) other areas, including arms control, action against drugs, organised crimes, money laundering, bribery and corruption.

2. Cooperation shall also support inter and intra-ACP cooperation schemes and initiatives.

3. Cooperation shall help promote and develop a regional political dialogue in areas of conflict prevention and resolution; human rights and democratisation; exchange, networking, and promotion of mobility between the different actors of development, in particular in civil society.

SECTION 4

Thematic and cross-cutting issues

Article 31

Gender issues

Cooperation shall help strengthen policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the equal participation of men and women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life. Cooperation shall help improve the access of women to all resources required for the full exercise of their fundamental rights. More specifically, cooperation shall create the appropriate framework to:

(a) integrate a gender-sensitive approach and concerns at every level of development cooperation including macroeconomic policies, strategies and operations; and

(b) encourage the adoption of specific positive measures in favour of women such as:

(i) participation in national and local politics;

(ii) support for women's organisations;

(iii) access to basic social services, especially to education and training, health care and family planning;

(iv) access to productive resources, especially to land and credit and to labour market; and

(v) taking specific account of women in emergency aid and rehabilitation operations.

Article 32

Environment and natural resources

1. Cooperation on environmental protection and sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources shall aim at:

(a) mainstreaming environmental sustainability into all aspects of development cooperation and support programmes and projects implemented by the various actors;

(b) building and/or strengthening the scientific and technical human and institutional capacity for environmental management for all environmental stakeholders;

(c) supporting specific measures and schemes aimed at addressing critical sustainable management issues and also relating to current and future regional and international commitments concerning mineral and natural resources such as:

(i) tropical forests, water resources, coastal, marine and fisheries resources, wildlife, soils, biodiversity;

(ii) protection of fragile ecosystems (e.g. coral reef);

(iii) renewable energy sources notably solar energy and energy efficiency;

(iv) sustainable rural and urban development;

(v) desertification, drought and deforestation;

(vi) developing innovative solutions to urban environmental problems; and

(vii) promotion of sustainable tourism.

(d) Taking into account issues relating to the transport and disposal of hazardous waste.

2. Cooperation shall also take account of:

(a) the vulnerability of small island ACP countries, especially to the threat posed by climate change;

(b) the worsening drought and desertification problems especially of least developed and land-locked countries; and

(c) institutional development and capacity building.

Article 33

Institutional development and capacity building

1. Cooperation shall pay systematic attention to institutional aspects and in this context, shall support the efforts of the ACP States to develop and strengthen structures, institutions and procedures that help to:

(a) promote and sustain democracy, human dignity, social justice and pluralism, with full respect for diversity within and among societies;

(b) promote and sustain universal and full respect for and observance and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms;

(c) develop and strengthen the rule of law; and improve access to justice, while guaranteeing the professionalism and independence of the judicial systems; and

(d) ensure transparent and accountable governance and administration in all public institutions.

2. The Parties shall work together in the fight against bribery and corruption in all their societies.

3. Cooperation shall support ACP States' efforts to develop their public institutions into a positive force for growth and development and to achieve major improvements in the efficiency of government services as they affect the lives of ordinary people. In this context, cooperation shall assist the reform, rationalisation and the modernisation of the public sector. Specifically, cooperation support shall focus on:

(a) the reform and modernisation of the civil service;

(b) legal and judicial reforms and modernisation of justice systems;

(c) improvement and strengthening of public finance management;

(d) accelerating reforms of the banking and financial sector;

(e) improvement of the management of public assets and reform of public procurement procedures; and

(f) political, administrative, economic and financial decentralisation.

4. Cooperation shall also assist to restore and/or enhance critical public sector capacity and to support institutions needed to underpin a market economy, especially support for:

(a) developing legal and regulatory capabilities needed to cope with the operation of a market economy, including competition policy and consumer policy;

(b) improving capacity to analyse, plan, formulate and implement policies, in particular in the economic, social, environmental, research, science and technology and innovation fields;

(c) modernising, strengthening and reforming financial and monetary institutions and improving procedures;

(d) building the capacity at the local and municipal levels which is required to implement decentralisation policy and to increase the participation of the population in the development process; and

(e) developing capacity in other critical areas such as:

(i) international negotiations; and

(ii) management and coordination of external aid.

5. Cooperation shall span all areas and sectors of cooperation to foster the emergence of non-State actors and the development of their capacities; and to strengthen structures for information, dialogue and consultation between them and the national authorities, including at regional level.

TITLE II

ECONOMIC AND TRADE COOPERATION

CHAPTER 1

Objectives and principles

Article 34

Objectives

1. Economic and trade cooperation shall aim at fostering the smooth and gradual integration of the ACP States into the world economy, with due regard for their political choices and development priorities, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication in the ACP countries.

2. The ultimate objective of economic and trade cooperation is to enable the ACP States to play a full part in international trade. In this context, particular regard shall be had to the need for the ACP States to participate actively in multilateral trade negotiations. Given the current level of development of the ACP countries, economic and trade cooperation shall be directed at enabling the ACP States to manage the challenges of globalisation and to adapt progressively to new conditions of international trade thereby facilitating their transition to the liberalised global economy.

3. To this end economic and trade cooperation shall aim at enhancing the production, supply and trading capacity of the ACP countries as well as their capacity to attract investment. It shall further aim at creating a new trading dynamic between the Parties, at strengthening the ACP countries trade and investment policies and at improving the ACP countries' capacity to handle all issues related to trade.

4. Economic and trade cooperation shall be implemented in full conformity with the provisions of the WTO, including special and differential treatment, taking account of the Parties' mutual interests and their respective levels of development.

Article 35

Principles

1. Economic and trade cooperation shall be based on a true, strengthened and strategic partnership. It shall further be based on a comprehensive approach which builds on the strengths and achievements of the previous ACP-EC Conventions, using all means available to achieve the objectives set out above by addressing supply and demand side constraints. In this context, particular regard shall be had to trade development measures as a means of enhancing ACP States' competitiveness. Appropriate weight shall therefore be given to trade development within the ACP States' development strategies, which the Community shall support.

2. Economic and trade cooperation shall build on regional integration initiatives of ACP States, bearing in mind that regional integration is a key instrument for the integration of ACP countries into the world economy.

3. Economic and trade cooperation shall take account of the different needs and levels of development of the ACP countries and regions. In this context, the Parties reaffirm their attachment to ensuring special and differential treatment for all ACP countries and to maintaining special treatment for ACP LDCs and to taking due account of the vulnerability of small, landlocked and island countries.

CHAPTER 2

New trading arrangements

Article 36

Modalities

1. In view of the objectives and principles set out above, the Parties agree to conclude new World Trade Organisation (WTO) compatible trading arrangements, removing progressively barriers to trade between them and enhancing cooperation in all areas relevant to trade.

2. The Parties agree that the new trading arrangements shall be introduced gradually and recognise the need, therefore, for a preparatory period.

3. In order to facilitate the transition to the new trading arrangements, the non-reciprocal trade preferences applied under the Fourth ACP-EC Convention shall be maintained during the preparatory period for all ACP countries, under the conditions defined in Annex V to this Agreement.

4. In this context, the Parties reaffirm the importance of the commodity protocols, attached to Annex V of this Agreement. They agree on the need to review them in the context of the new trading arrangements, in particular as regards their compatibility with WTO rules, with a view to safeguarding the benefits derived therefrom, bearing in mind the special legal status of the Sugar Protocol.

Article 37

Procedures

1. Economic partnership agreements shall be negotiated during the preparatory period which shall end by 31 December 2007 at the latest. Formal negotiations of the new trading arrangements shall start in September 2002 and the new trading arrangements shall enter into force by 1 January 2008, unless earlier dates are agreed between the Parties.

2. All the necessary measures shall be taken so as to ensure that the negotiations are successfully concluded within the preparatory period. To this end, the period up to the start of the formal negotiations of the new trading arrangements shall be actively used to make initial preparations for these negotiations.

3. The preparatory period shall also be used for capacity-building in the public and private sectors of ACP countries, including measures to enhance competitiveness, for strengthening of regional organisations and for support to regional trade integration initiatives, where appropriate with assistance to budgetary adjustment and fiscal reform, as well as for infrastructure upgrading and development, and for investment promotion.

4. The Parties will regularly review the progress of the preparations and negotiations and, will in 2006 carry out a formal and comprehensive review of the arrangements planned for all countries to ensure that no further time is needed for preparations or negotiations.

5. Negotiations of the economic partnership agreements will be undertaken with ACP countries which consider themselves in a position to do so, at the level they consider appropriate and in accordance with the procedures agreed by the ACP Group, taking into account regional integration process within the ACP.

6. In 2004, the Community will assess the situation of the non-LDC which, after consultations with the Community decide that they are not in a position to enter into economic partnership agreements and will examine all alternative possibilities, in order to provide these countries with a new framework for trade which is equivalent to their existing situation and in conformity with WTO rules.

7. Negotiations of the economic partnership agreements shall aim notably at establishing the timetable for the progressive removal of barriers to trade between the Parties, in accordance with the relevant WTO rules. On the Community side trade liberalisation shall build on the acquis and shall aim at improving current market access for the ACP countries through inter alia, a review of the rules of origin. Negotiations shall take account of the level of development and the socio-economic impact of trade measures on ACP countries, and their capacity to adapt and adjust their economies to the liberalisation process. Negotiations will therefore be as flexible as possible in establishing the duration of a sufficient transitional period, the final product coverage, taking into account sensitive sectors, and the degree of asymmetry in terms of timetable for tariff dismantlement, while remaining in conformity with WTO rules then prevailing.

8. The Parties shall closely cooperate and collaborate in the WTO with a view to defending the arrangements reached, in particular with regard to the degree of flexibility available.

9. The Community will start by the year 2000, a process which by the end of multilateral trade negotiations and at the latest 2005 will allow duty free access for essentially all products from all LDC building on the level of the existing trade provisions of the Fourth ACP-EC Convention and which will simplify and review the rules of origin, including cumulation provisions, that apply to their exports.

Article 38

Joint Ministerial Trade Committee

1. A Joint ACP-EC Ministerial Trade Committee shall be established.

2. The Ministerial Trade Committee shall pay special attention to current multilateral trade negotiations and shall examine the impact of the wider liberalisation initiatives on ACP-EC trade and the development of ACP economies. It shall make any necessary recommendations with a view to preserving the benefits of the ACP-EC trading arrangements.

3. The Ministerial Trade Committee shall meet at least once a year. Its rules of procedure shall be laid down by the Council of Ministers. It shall be composed of representatives of the ACP States and of the Community.

CHAPTER 3

Cooperation in the international fora

Article 39

General Provisions

1. The Parties underline the importance of their active participation in the WTO as well as in other relevant international organisations by becoming members of these organisations and closely following their agenda and activities.

2. They agree to cooperate closely in identifying and furthering their common interests in international economic and trade cooperation in particular in the WTO, including participation in setting and conducting the agenda in future multilateral trade negotiations. In this context, particular attention shall be paid to improve access to the Community and other markets for products and services originating in the ACP countries.

3. They also agree on the importance of flexibility in WTO rules to take account of the ACP's level of development as well of the difficulties faced in meeting their obligations. They further agree on the need for technical assistance to enable the ACP countries to implement their commitments.

4. The Community agrees to assist the ACP States in their efforts, in accordance with the provisions set out in this Agreement, to become active members of these organisations, by developing the necessary capacity to negotiate, participate effectively, monitor and implement these agreements.

Article 40

Commodities

1. The Parties recognise the need to ensure a better operation of international commodity markets and to increase market transparency.

2. They confirm their willingness to step up consultations between them in the international fora and organisations dealing with commodities.

3. To this end, exchange of views shall take place at the request of either Party:

- regarding the operation of existing international agreements or specialised intergovernmental working parties with the aim of improving them and making them more effective, consistent with market trends;

- when it is proposed to conclude or renew an international agreement or set up a specialised intergovernmental working party.

The aim of such exchanges of views shall be to take account of the respective interest of each party. They may take place, where necessary, in the framework of the Ministerial Trade Committee.

CHAPTER 4

Trade in services

Article 41

General Provisions

1. The Parties underline the growing importance of services in international trade and their major contribution to economic and social development.

2. They reaffirm their respective commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and underline the need for special and differential treatment to ACP suppliers of services;

3. In the framework of the negotiations for progressive liberalisation in trade and services, as provided for in Article XIX of GATS, the Community undertakes to give sympathetic consideration to the ACP States' priorities for improvement in the EC schedule, with a view to meeting their specific interests.

4. The Parties further agree on the objective of extending under the economic partnership agreements, and after they have acquired some experience in applying the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment under GATS, their partnership to encompass the liberalisation of services in accordance with the provisions of GATS and particularly those relating to the participation of developing countries in liberalisation agreements.

5. The Community shall support the ACP States' efforts to strengthen their capacity in the supply of services. Particular attention shall be paid to services related to labour, business, distribution, finance, tourism, culture and construction and related engineering services with a view to enhancing their competitiveness and thereby increasing the value and the volume of their trade in goods and services.

Article 42

Maritime Transport

1. The Parties acknowledge the importance of cost-effective and efficient maritime transport services in a safe and clean marine environment as the main mode of transportation facilitating international trade and thereby constituting one of the forces behind economic development and the development of trade.

2. They undertake to promote the liberalisation of maritime transport and to this end apply effectively the principle of unrestricted access to the international maritime transport market on a non-discriminatory and commercial basis.

3. Each Party shall grant, inter alia, a treatment no less favourable than that accorded to its own ships, for ships operated by nationals or companies of the other Party, and for ships registered in the territory of either party, with respect to access to ports, the use of infrastructure and auxiliary maritime services of those ports, as well as related fees and charges, customs facilities and the assignment of berths and facilities for loading and unloading.

4. The Community shall support the ACP States' efforts to develop and promote cost-effective and efficient maritime transport services in the ACP States with a view to increasing the participation of ACP operators in international shipping services.

Article 43

Information and Communication Technologies, and Information Society

1. The Parties recognise the important role of information and communication technologies, as well as the active participation in the Information Society, as a pre-requisite for the successful integration of the ACP countries into the world economy.

2. They therefore reconfirm their respective commitments under existing multilateral agreements, in particular the protocol on Basic Telecommunications attached to the GATS, and invite those ACP countries, which are not yet members of these agreements, to accede to them.

3. They furthermore agree to participate fully and actively in any future international negotiation, which might be conducted in this area.

4. The Parties will therefore take measures that will enable inhabitants of ACP countries easy access to information and communication technologies, through, amongst other, the following measures:

- the development and encouragement of the use of affordable renewable energy resources;

- the development and deployment of more extensive low-cost wireless networks.

5. The Parties also agree to step up cooperation between them in the area of information and communication technologies, and the Information Society. This cooperation shall, in particular, be directed towards greater complementarity and harmonisation of communication systems, at national, regional and international level and their adaptation to new technologies.

CHAPTER 5

Trade-related areas

Article 44

General Provisions

1. The Parties acknowledge the growing importance of new areas related to trade in facilitating progressive integration of the ACP States into the world economy. They therefore agree to strengthen their cooperation in these areas by establishing full and coordinated participation in the relevant international fora and agreements.

2. The Community shall support the ACP States' efforts, in accordance with the provisions set out in this Agreement and the development strategies agreed between the Parties to strengthen their capacity to handle all areas related to trade, including, where necessary, improving and supporting the institutional framework.

Article 45

Competition Policy

1. The Parties agree that the introduction and implementation of effective and sound competition policies and rules are of crucial importance in order to improve and secure an investment friendly climate, a sustainable industrialisation process and transparency in the access to markets.

2. To ensure the elimination of distortions to sound competition and with due consideration to the different levels of development and economic needs of each ACP country, they undertake to implement national or regional rules and policies including the control and under certain conditions the prohibition of agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices between undertakings which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition. The Parties further agree to prohibit the abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the common market of the Community or in the territory of ACP States.

3. The Parties also agree to reinforce cooperation in this area with a view to formulating and supporting effective competition policies with the appropriate national competition agencies that progressively ensure the efficient enforcement of the competition rules by both private and state enterprises. Cooperation in this area shall, in particular, include assistance in the drafting of an appropriate legal framework and its administrative enforcement with particular reference to the special situation of the least developed countries.

Article 46

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

1. Without prejudice to the positions of the Parties in multilateral negotiations, the Parties recognise the need to ensure an adequate and effective level of protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights, and other rights covered by TRIPS including protection of geographical indications, in line with the international standards with a view to reducing distortions and impediments to bilateral trade.

2. They underline the importance, in this context, of adherence to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to the WTO Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

3. They also agree on the need to accede to all relevant international conventions on intellectual, industrial and commercial property as referred to in Part I of the TRIPS Agreement, in line with their level of development.

4. The Community, its Member States and the ACP States may consider the conclusion of agreements aimed at protecting trademarks and geographical indications for products of particular interest of either Party.

5. For the purpose of this Agreement, intellectual property includes in particular copyright, including the copyright on computer programmes, and neighbouring rights, including artistic designs, and industrial property which includes utility models, patents including patents for bio-technological inventions and plant varieties or other effective sui generis systems, industrial designs, geographical indications including appellations of origin, trademarks for goods or services, topographies of integrated circuits as well as the legal protection of data bases and the protection against unfair competition as referred to in Article 10a of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and protection of undisclosed confidential information on know how.

6. The Parties further agree to strengthen their cooperation in this field. Upon request and on mutually agreed terms and conditions cooperation shall inter alia extend to the following areas: the preparation of laws and regulations for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, the prevention of the abuse of such rights by rightholders and the infringement of such rights by competitors, the establishment and reinforcement of domestic and regional offices and other agencies including support for regional intellectual property organisations involved in enforcement and protection, including the training of personnel.

Article 47

Standardisation and Certification

1. The Parties agree to cooperate more closely in the field of standardisation, certification and quality assurance to remove unnecessary technical barriers and to reduce differences between them in those areas, so as to facilitate trade.

In this context, they reaffirm their commitment under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to trade, annexed to the WTO Agreement (TBT Agreement).

2. Cooperation in standardisation and certification shall aim at promoting compatible systems between the Parties and in particular include:

- measures, in accordance with the TBT Agreement, to promote greater use of international technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures, including sector specific measures, in accordance with the level of economic development of ACP countries,

- cooperation in the area of quality management and assurance in selected sectors of importance to the ACP States,

- support for capacity building initiatives in the ACP countries in the fields of conformity assessment, metrology and standardisation,

- developing functioning links between ACP and European standardisation, conformity assessment and certification institutions.

3. The Parties undertake to consider, in due course, negotiating mutual recognition agreements in sectors of mutual economic interest.

Article 48

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

1. The Parties recognise the right of each Party to adopt or to enforce sanitary and phytosanitary measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health, subject to the requirement that these measures do not constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction to trade, generally. To this end, they reaffirm their commitments under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, annexed to the WTO Agreement (SPS-Agreement), taking account of their respective level of development.

2. They further undertake to reinforce coordination, consultation and information as regards notification and application of proposed sanitary and phytosanitary measures, in accordance with the SPS-Agreement whenever these measures might affect the interests of either Party. They also agree on prior consultation and coordination within the Codex Alimentarius, the International Office of Epizootics and the International Plant Protection Convention, with a view to furthering their common interests.

3. The Parties agree to strengthen their cooperation with a view to reinforcing the capacity of the public and the private sector of the ACP countries in this field.

Article 49

Trade and Environment

1. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to promoting the development of international trade in such a way as to ensure sustainable and sound management of the environment, in accordance with the international conventions and undertakings in this area and with due regard to their respective level of development. They agree that the special needs and requirements of ACP States should be taken into account in the design and implementation of environment measures.

2. Bearing in mind the Rio Principles and with a view to reinforcing the mutual supportiveness of trade and environment, the Parties agree to enhance their cooperation in this field. Cooperation shall in particular aim at the establishment of coherent national, regional and international policies, reinforcement of quality controls of goods and services related to the environment, the improvement of environment-friendly production methods in relevant sectors.

Article 50

Trade and Labour Standards

1. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to the internationally recognised core labour standards, as defined by the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, and in particular the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, the abolition of forced labour, the elimination of worst forms of child labour and non-discrimination in respect to employment.

2. They agree to enhance cooperation in this area, in particular in the following fields:

- exchange of information on the respective legislation and work regulation;

- the formulation of national labour legislation and strengthening of existing legislation;

- educational and awareness-raising programmes;

- enforcement of adherence to national legislation and work regulation.

3. The Parties agree that labour standards should not be used for protectionist trade purposes.

Article 51

Consumer Policy and Protection of Consumer Health

1. The Parties agree to step up their cooperation in the area of consumer policy and consumer health protection, having due regard to domestic legislation to avoid barriers to trade.

2. Cooperation shall, in particular, aim at improving the institutional and technical capacity in this area, establishing rapid-alert systems of mutual information on dangerous products, exchanging information and experiences on the establishment and operation of post market surveillance of products and product safety, improving information provided to consumers on prices, characteristics of products and services offered, encouraging the development of independent consumer associations and contacts between consumer interest representatives, improving compatibility of consumer policies and systems, notifying enforcement of the legislation and promoting cooperation in investigating harmful or unfair business practices and implementing exports prohibitions in the trade between the Parties of goods and services the marketing of which has been prohibited in their country of production.

Article 52

Tax Carve-out Clause

1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 31 of Annex IV, the Most Favoured Nation treatment granted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, or any arrangement adopted under this Agreement, does not apply to tax advantages which the Parties are providing or may provide in the future on the basis of agreements to avoid double taxation or other tax arrangements, or domestic fiscal legislation.

2. Nothing in this Agreement, or in any arrangements adopted under this Agreement, may be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement of any measure aimed at preventing the avoidance or evasion of taxes pursuant to the tax provisions of agreements to avoid double taxation or other tax arrangements, or domestic fiscal legislation.

3. Nothing in this Agreement, or in any arrangements adopted under this Agreement, shall be construed to prevent the Parties from distinguishing, in the application of the relevant provisions of their fiscal legislation, between taxpayers who are not in the same situation, in particular with regard to their place of residence, or with regard to the place where their capital is invested.

CHAPTER 6

Cooperation in other areas

Article 53

Fishery Agreements

1. The Parties declare their willingness to negotiate fishery agreements aimed at guaranteeing sustainable and mutually satisfactory conditions for fishing activities in ACP States.

2. In the conclusion or implementation of such agreements, the ACP States shall not discriminate against the Community or among the Member States, without prejudice to special arrangements between developing States within the same geographical area, including reciprocal fishing arrangements, nor shall the Community discriminate against ACP States.

Article 54

Food security

1. With regard to available agricultural products, the Community undertakes to ensure that export refunds can be fixed further in advance for all ACP States in respect of a range of products drawn up in the light of the food requirements expressed by those States.

2. Advance fixing shall be for one year and shall be applied each year throughout the life of this Agreement, it being understood that the level of the refund will be determined in accordance with the methods normally followed by the Commission.

3. Specific agreements may be concluded with those ACP States which so request in the context of their food security policies.

4. The specific agreements referred to in paragraph 3 shall not place in jeopardy production and trade flows in ACP regions.

PART 4

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE COOPERATION

TITLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 1

Objectives, principles, guidelines and eligibility

Article 55

Objectives

The objectives of development finance cooperation shall be, through the provision of adequate financial resources and appropriate technical assistance, to support and promote the efforts of ACP States to achieve the objectives set out in this Agreement on the basis of mutual interest and in a spirit of interdependence.

Article 56

Principles

1. Development finance cooperation shall be implemented on the basis of and be consistent with the development objectives, strategies and priorities established by the ACP States, at both national and regional levels. Their respective geographical, social and cultural characteristics, as well as their specific potential, shall be taken into account. In addition, cooperation shall:

(a) promote local ownership at all levels of the development process;

(b) reflect a partnership based on mutual rights and obligations;

(c) emphasise the importance of predictability and security in resource flows, granted on highly concessional terms and on a continuous basis;

(d) be flexible and appropriate to the situation in each ACP State as well as adapted to the specific nature of the project or programme concerned; and

(e) ensure efficiency, coordination and consistency.

2. Cooperation shall ensure special treatment for LDC ACP countries and duly take into account the vulnerability of landlocked and island ACP countries. In addition, the specific needs of post-conflict countries shall also be addressed.

Article 57

Guidelines

1. Operations financed within the framework of this Agreement shall be implemented by the ACP States and the Community in close cooperation, the concept of equality between the partners being recognised.

2. The ACP States shall be responsible for:

(a) defining the objectives and priorities on which the indicative programmes are based;

(b) choosing projects and programmes;

(c) preparing and presenting the dossiers of projects and programmes;

(d) preparing, negotiating and concluding contracts;

(e) implementing and managing projects and programmes; and

(f) maintaining projects and programmes.

3. Without prejudice to the provisions above, eligible non-State actors may also be responsible for proposing and implementing programmes and projects in areas concerning them.

4. The ACP States and the Community shall be jointly responsible for:

(a) establishing, within the joint institutions, the guidelines for development finance cooperation;

(b) adopting the indicative programmes;

(c) appraising projects and programmes;

(d) ensuring equality of conditions for participation in invitations to tender and contracts;

(e) monitoring and evaluating the effects and results of projects and programmes; and

(f) ensuring the proper, prompt and efficient execution of projects and programmes.

5. The Community shall be responsible for taking financing decisions on projects and programmes.

6. Unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement, all decisions requiring the approval of either Party shall be approved, or be deemed approved, within 60 days of notification by the other Party.

Article 58

Eligibility for financing

1. The following entities or bodies shall be eligible for financial support provided under the Agreement:

(a) ACP States;

(b) regional or inter-State bodies to which one or more ACP States belong and which are authorised by those States; and

(c) joint bodies set up by the ACP States and the Community to pursue certain specific objectives.

2. Subject to the agreement of the ACP State or ACP States concerned, the following shall also be eligible for financial support:

(a) national and/or regional public or semi-public agencies, departments or local authorities of the ACP States and, in particular, their financial institutions and development banks;

(b) companies, firms and other private organisations and private operators of ACP States;

(c) enterprises of a Community Member State to enable them, in addition to their own contribution, to undertake productive projects in the territory of an ACP State;

(d) ACP or Community financial intermediaries providing, promoting and financing private investments in ACP States; and

(e) agents of decentralised cooperation and other non-State actors from the ACP States and from the Community.

CHAPTER 2

Scope and nature of financing

Article 59

Within the framework of the priorities established by the ACP State or States concerned at both national and regional levels, support may be given to projects, programmes and other forms of operations contributing to the objectives set out in this Agreement.

Article 60

Scope of financing

The scope of financing may include, inter alia, depending on the needs and the types of operation considered most appropriate, support to:

(a) measures which contribute to attenuate the debt burden and balance of payments problems of the ACP countries;

(b) macroeconomic and structural reforms and policies;

(c) mitigation of adverse effects of instability in export earnings;

(d) sectoral policies and reforms;

(e) institutional development and capacity building;

(f) technical cooperation programmes; and

(g) humanitarian and emergency assistance including assistance to refugees and displaced persons, short-term rehabilitation measures and disaster preparedness.

Article 61

Nature of financing

1. The nature of financing shall, inter alia, include:

(a) projects and programmes;

(b) credit lines, guarantee schemes and equity participation;

(c) budgetary support, either directly, for the ACP States whose currencies are convertible and freely transferable, or indirectly, from counterparts funds generated by the various Community instruments;

(d) the human and material resources necessary for effective administration and supervision of projects and programmes;

(e) sectoral and general import support programmes which may take the form of:

(i) sectoral import programmes through direct procurement including financing of inputs in the productive system and supplies to improve social services;

(ii) sectoral import programmes in the form of foreign exchange released in instalments for financing sectoral imports; and

(iii) general import programmes in the form of foreign exchange released in instalments for financing general imports covering a wide range of products.

2. Direct budgetary assistance in support of macroeconomic or sectoral reforms shall be granted where:

(a) public expenditure management is sufficiently transparent, accountable and effective;

(b) well defined macroeconomic or sectoral policies established by the country itself and agreed to by its main donors are in place; and

(c) public procurement is open and transparent.

3. Similar direct budgetary assistance shall be granted gradually to sectoral policies in substitution for individual projects.

4. The instruments of import programmes or budgetary support defined above can also be used to support eligible ACP States implementing reforms aimed at intra-regional economic liberalisation which generate net transitional costs.

5. In the framework of the Agreement, the European Development Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Fund) including counterpart funds, unexpended balance from previous Funds, own resources of the European Investment Bank (hereinafter referred to as the Bank) and where appropriate resources drawn from the European Community's budget, shall be used to finance projects, programmes and other forms of operations contributing to the achievement of the objectives of this Agreement.

6. The funds provided under the Agreement may be used to cover the total costs of both the local and foreign expenditure of projects and programmes, including recurrent cost financing.

TITLE II

FINANCIAL COOPERATION

CHAPTER 1

Financial resources

Article 62

Overall amount

1. For the purposes set out in this Agreement, the overall amount of the Community's financial assistance and the detailed terms and conditions of financing are provided for in the Annexes to this Agreement.

2. Should an ACP State fail to ratify this Agreement or denounce it, the Parties shall adjust the amounts of the resources provided for in the Financial Protocol set out in Annex I. Adjustment of the financial resources shall also apply upon:

(a) the accession to the Agreement of new ACP States which did not take part in its negotiation; and

(b) the enlargement of the Community.

Article 63

Methods of financing

The methods of financing for each project or programme shall be determined jointly by the ACP State or States concerned and the Community by reference to:

(a) the level of development, the geographical situation and economic and financial circumstances of these States;

(b) the nature of the project or programme, its economic and financial return as well as its social and cultural impact; and

(c) in the case of loans, factors guaranteeing their servicing.

Article 64

On-lending operations

1. Financial assistance may be made available to or through the ACP States concerned or, subject to the provisions of this Agreement through eligible financial institutions or directly to any other eligible beneficiary. Where financial assistance is granted to the final recipient through an intermediary or directly to the final beneficiary in the private sector:

(a) the terms and conditions on which the assistance may be made available by the intermediary to the final recipient or directly to the final beneficiary in the private sector shall be laid down in the financing agreement or loan contract; and

(b) any financial benefit accruing to the intermediary from the on-lending transaction or resulting from direct lending operations to the final beneficiary in the private sector, shall be used for development purposes on the conditions laid down in the financing agreement or the loan contract, after taking into account administrative costs, exchange and financial risks and the cost of technical assistance given to the final recipient.

2. Where the financing is undertaken through an on-lending body based and/or operating in the ACP States, it shall be the responsibility of that body to select and appraise individual projects and to administer the funds placed at its disposal under the conditions provided for in this Agreement and by mutual agreement between the Parties.

Article 65

Co-financing

1. The financial resources provided for in this Agreement may be applied, at the request of the ACP States, to co-financing undertaken in particular with development agencies and institutions, Community Member States, ACP States, third countries or international or private financial institutions, firms or export credit agencies.

2. Special consideration shall be given to the possibility of co-financing in cases where Community participation will encourage the participation of other sources of finance and where such financing may lead to an advantageous financial package for the ACP State concerned.

3. Co-financing may be in the form of joint or parallel financing. Preference shall be given in each case to the solution, which is more suitable from the point of view of cost-effectiveness. In addition, measures shall be taken to coordinate and harmonise operations of the Community and those of other co-financing bodies in order to minimise the number of procedures to be undertaken by the ACP States and to render those procedures more flexible.

4. The process of consultation and coordination with other donors and co-financiers should be strengthened and developed, where possible, through the establishment of co-financing framework agreements and co-financing policies and procedures should be reviewed to ensure effectiveness and the best terms and conditions possible.

CHAPTER 2

Debt and structural adjustment support

Article 66

Support for debt relief

1. In order to attenuate the debt burden of the ACP States and their balance-of-payment problems, the Parties agree to use the resources provided for in this Agreement to contribute to debt relief initiatives approved at international level for the benefit of ACP countries. In addition, on a case by case basis, the use of resources which have not been committed in the framework of past indicative programmes shall be accelerated through the quick-disbursing instruments provided for in this Agreement. The Community furthermore commits itself to examine how in the longer term other resources than the EDF can be mobilised in support of internationally agreed debt relief initiatives.

2. At the request of an ACP State, the Community may grant:

(a) assistance in studying and finding practical solutions to indebtedness including domestic debt, debt-servicing difficulties and balance of payments problems;

(b) training in debt management and international financial negotiations as well as support for training workshops, courses and seminars in these fields; and

(c) assistance to develop flexible techniques and instruments of debt management.

3. In order to contribute to the servicing of the debt resulting from loans from the Bank's own resources, special loans and risk capital, the ACP States may, in accordance with arrangements to be made on a case-by-case basis with the Commission, use the available foreign currency referred to in this Agreement for such servicing, as and when debt repayment falls due and up to the amount required for payments in national currency.

4. Given the seriousness of the international debt problem and its impact on economic growth, the Parties declare their readiness to continue to exchange views, within the context of international discussions, on the general problem of debt, and without prejudice to specific discussions taking place in the relevant fora.

Article 67

Structural adjustment support

1. The Agreement shall provide support for macroeconomic and sectoral reforms implemented by the ACP States. In this framework, the Parties shall ensure that adjustment is economically viable and socially and politically bearable. Support shall be given in the context of a joint assessment between the Community and the ACP State concerned on the reform measures being undertaken or contemplated either at macroeconomic or sectoral level, and permit an overall evaluation of the reform efforts. Quick disbursement shall be an important feature of support programmes.

2. The ACP States and the Community recognise the necessity to encourage reform programmes at regional level ensuring that, in the preparation and execution of national programmes, due consideration is given to regional activities which have an influence on national development. To this end, support for structural adjustment shall also seek to:

(a) incorporate, from the beginning of the diagnosis, measures to encourage regional integration and take account of the consequences of trans-border adjustment;

(b) support the harmonisation and coordination of macroeconomic and sectoral policies, including fiscal and customs areas, so as to fulfil the dual aim of regional integration and of structural reform at national level; and

(c) take account of the effects of net transitional costs of regional integration on budget revenue and balance of payments, either through general import programmes or budgetary support.

3. ACP States undertaking or contemplating reform at the macroeconomic or sectoral level shall be eligible for structural adjustment assistance, giving consideration to the regional context, their effectiveness and the likely impact on the economic, social and political dimension of development and on economic and social hardships being experienced.

4. The ACP States undertaking reform programmes that are acknowledged and supported at least by the principal multilateral donors, or that are agreed with such donors but not necessarily financially supported by them, shall be treated as having automatically satisfied the requirements for adjustment assistance.

5. Structural adjustment support shall be mobilised in a flexible manner and in the form of sectoral and general import programmes or budgetary support.

6. The preparation, appraisal and financing decision for structural adjustment programmes shall be carried out according to the provisions on implementation procedures of this Agreement with due regard to the quick disbursing feature of structural adjustment programmes. On a case-by-case basis, retroactive financing of a limited part of imports of ACP-EC origin may be permissible.

7. The implementation of each support programme shall ensure that the eligibility of ACP economic operators for access to the resources of the programme is as wide and transparent as possible and that the procurement procedures accord with the administrative and commercial practices in the State concerned, while ensuring the best possible price/quality ratio on imported goods and the necessary consistency with the progress achieved internationally for harmonising the procedures for supporting structural adjustment.

CHAPTER 3

Support in cases of short-term fluctuations in export earnings

Article 68

1. The Parties recognise that instability of export earnings, particularly in the agricultural and mining sectors, may adversely affect the development of the ACP States and jeopardise the attainment of their development requirements. A system of additional support in order to mitigate the adverse effects of any instability in export earnings, including in the agricultural and mining sectors, is therefore set up within the financial envelope for support to long-term development.

2. The purpose of support in cases of short-term fluctuations in export earnings is to safeguard macroeconomic and sectoral reforms and policies that are at risk as a result of a drop in revenue and remedy the adverse effects of instability of export earnings in particular from agricultural and mining products.

3. The extreme dependence of the ACP States' economies on exports, in particular from the agricultural and mining sectors, shall be taken into account in the allocation of resources in the year of application. In this context, the least developed, landlocked and island ACP States shall receive more favourable treatment.

4. The additional resources shall be provided in accordance with the specific modalities of the support mechanism as set out in Annex II on Terms and Conditions of Financing.

5. The Community shall also provide support for market based insurance schemes designed for ACP States seeking to protect themselves against the risk of fluctuations in export earnings.

CHAPTER 4

Support for sectoral policies

Article 69

1. Cooperation shall support, through the various instruments and modalities provided for in the Agreement:

(a) social and economic sectoral policies and reforms;

(b) measures to enhance productive sector activity and export competitiveness;

(c) measures to expand social sector services; and

(d) thematic and cross cutting issues.

2. This support shall be provided as appropriate through:

(a) sectoral programmes;

(b) budgetary support;

(c) investments;

(d) rehabilitation;

(e) training;

(f) technical assistance; and

(g) institutional support.

CHAPTER 5

Microprojects and decentralised cooperation

Article 70

In order to respond to the needs of local communities with regard to development, and to encourage all agents of decentralised cooperation which are in a position to contribute to the autonomous development of the ACP States to put forward and implement initiatives, cooperation shall support, within the framework laid down in the rules and national legislation of the ACP States concerned and the provisions of the indicative programme, such development operations. In this context, cooperation shall support:

(a) micro-projects at local level which have an economic and social impact on the life of the people, meet a demonstrated and observed priority need, and shall be undertaken at the initiative and with the active participation of the local community which shall benefit therefrom; and

(b) decentralised cooperation, in particular where such operations combine efforts and resources of decentralised agents from the ACP States and their counterparts from the Community. This form of cooperation shall enable the mobilisation of capabilities, innovative operating methods and resources of decentralised agents for the development of the ACP State.

Article 71

1. Microprojects and decentralised cooperation operations may be supported from the financial resources of the Agreement. Projects or programmes under this form of cooperation may or may not be linked to programmes in the sectors of concentration of the indicative programmes, but may be a way of achieving the specific objectives of the indicative programme or the results of initiatives by local communities or decentralised agents.

2. Contributions for the financing of micro-projects and decentralised cooperation shall be made by the Fund, in which case the contribution shall not normally exceed three-quarters of the total cost of each project and may not exceed the limit set in the indicative programme. The remaining balance shall be provided:

(a) by the local community concerned in case of micro-projects (either in kind or in the form of services or cash and adapted to its capacity to contribute);

(b) by the agents of decentralised cooperation, provided that the financial, technical, material and other resources brought in by such agents shall not normally be less than 25 % of the estimated cost of the project/programme; and

(c) exceptionally by the ACP State concerned, either in the form of a financial contribution or through the use of public equipment or the supply of services.

3. The procedures applicable to projects and programmes financed within the framework of microprojects or decentralised cooperation shall be those laid down in the Agreement, in particular those referred to in multi-annual programmes.

CHAPTER 6

Humanitarian and emergency assistance

Article 72

1. Humanitarian and emergency assistance shall be accorded to the population in ACP States faced with serious economic and social difficulties of an exceptional nature resulting from natural disasters, man-made crises such as wars and other conflicts or extraordinary circumstances having comparable effects. The humanitarian and emergency assistance shall be maintained for as long as necessary to deal with the emergency needs resulting from these situations.

2. Humanitarian and emergency assistance shall be granted exclusively according to the needs and interests of victims of disasters and in line with the principles of international humanitarian law. In particular, there shall be no discrimination between victims on grounds of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, nationality or political affiliation and free access to and protection of victims shall be guaranteed as well as the security of humanitarian personnel and equipment.

3. Humanitarian and emergency assistance shall aim to:

(a) safeguard human lives in crises and immediate post-crisis situations brought about by natural disasters, conflict or war;

(b) contribute to the financing and delivery of humanitarian aid and to the direct access to it of its intended beneficiaries by all logistical means available;

(c) carry out short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction to enable the parts of the population affected to benefit once more from a minimum of socio-economic integration and, as soon as possible, create the conditions for a resumption of development on the basis of long-term objectives set by the ACP country concerned;

(d) address the needs arising from the displacement of people (refugees, displaced persons and returnees) following natural or man-made disasters so as to meet, for as long as necessary, all the needs of refugees and displaced persons (wherever they may be) and facilitate action for their voluntary repatriation and re-integration in their country of origin; and

(e) assist the ACP State in setting up disaster prevention and preparedness mechanisms, including prediction and early-warning systems, with a view to reducing the consequences of disasters.

4. Similar assistance, as set out above, may be granted to ACP States taking in refugees or returnees to meet acute needs not covered by emergency assistance.

5. Underlining the developmental nature of the assistance granted in accordance with this Article, assistance may be used exceptionally together with the indicative programme at the request of the State concerned.

6. Humanitarian and emergency assistance operations shall be undertaken either at the request of the ACP country affected by the crisis situation, the Commission, international organisations or local or international non-State organisations. Such assistance shall be administered and implemented under procedures permitting operations that are rapid, flexible and effective. The Community shall take adequate steps to facilitate speedy action, which is required to meet the immediate needs for which emergency assistance is needed.

Article 73

1. Post-emergency action, aimed at physical and social rehabilitation consequent on the results of natural disasters or extraordinary circumstances having comparable effects, may be undertaken with Community assistance under this Agreement. Such action, using effective and flexible mechanisms, must ease the transition from the emergency phase to the development phase, promote the socio-economic reintegration of the parts of the population affected, remove as far as possible the causes of the crisis and strengthen institutions and the ownership by local and national actors of their role in formulating a sustainable development policy for the ACP country concerned.

2. Short-term emergency action shall only in exceptional circumstances be financed under the Fund where such assistance cannot be financed from the Community's budget.

CHAPTER 7

Investment and private sector development support

Article 74

Cooperation shall, through financial and technical assistance, support the policies and strategies for investment and private sector development as set out in this Agreement.

Article 75

Investment promotion

The ACP States, the Community and its Member States, within the scope of their respective competencies, recognising the importance of private investment in the promotion of their development cooperation and acknowledging the need to take steps to promote such investment, shall:

(a) implement measures to encourage participation in their development efforts by private investors who comply with the objectives and priorities of ACP-EC development cooperation and with the appropriate laws and regulations of their respective States;

(b) take measures and actions which help to create and maintain a predictable and secure investment climate as well as enter into negotiations on agreements which will improve such climate;

(c) encourage the EU private sector to invest and to provide specific assistance to its counterparts in the ACP countries under mutual business cooperation and partnerships;

(d) facilitate partnerships and joint ventures by encouraging co-financing;

(e) sponsor sectoral investment fora to promote partnerships and external investment;

(f) support efforts of the ACP States to attract financing, with particular emphasis on private financing, for infrastructure investments and revenue generating infrastructure critical for the private sector;

(g) support capacity building for domestic investment promotion agencies and institutions involved in promoting and facilitating foreign investment;

(h) disseminate information on investment opportunities and business operating conditions in the ACP States; and

(i) promote national, regional and ACP-EU private sector business dialogue, cooperation and partnerships, in particular through an ACP-EU private sector business forum. Support for operations of an ACP-EU private sector business forum shall be provided in pursuit of the following objectives:

(i) to facilitate dialogue within the ACP/EU private sector and between the ACP/EU private sector and the bodies established under the Agreement;

(ii) to analyse and periodically provide the relevant bodies with information on the whole range of issues concerning relations between the ACP and EU private sectors in the context of the Agreement or, more generally, of economic relations between the Community and the ACP countries; and

(iii) to analyse and provide the relevant bodies with information on specific problems of a sectoral nature relating to, inter alia, branches of production or types of products at regional or sub-regional level.

Article 76

Investment finance and support

1. Cooperation shall provide long-term financial resources, including risk capital, to assist in promoting growth in the private sector and help to mobilise domestic and foreign capital for this purpose. To this end, cooperation shall provide, in particular:

(a) grants for financial and technical assistance to support policy reforms, human resource development, institutional capacity-building or other forms of institutional support related to a specific investment, measures to increase the competitiveness of enterprises and to strengthen the capacities of the private financial and non-financial intermediaries, investment facilitation and promotion and competitiveness enhancement activities;

(b) advisory and consultative services to assist in creating a responsive investment climate and information base to guide and encourage the flow of capital;

(c) risk-capital for equity or quasi-equity investments, guarantees in support of domestic and foreign private investment and loans or lines of credit on the conditions laid down in Annex II "Terms and Conditions of Financing" to this Agreement; and

(d) loans from the Bank's own resources.

2. Loans from the Bank's own resources shall be granted in accordance with its statute and with the terms and conditions laid down in Annex II to this Agreement.

Article 77

Investment guarantees

1. Investment guarantees are an increasingly important tool for development finance as they contribute to reducing project risks and inducing private capital flows. Cooperation shall therefore ensure the increasing availability and use of risk insurance as a risk-mitigating mechanism in order to boost investor confidence in the ACP States.

2. Cooperation shall offer guarantees and assist with guarantees funds covering risks for qualified investment. Specifically, cooperation shall provide support to:

(a) reinsurance schemes to cover foreign direct investment by eligible investors; against legal uncertainties and the major risks of expropriation, currency transfer restriction, war and civil disturbance, and breach of contract. Investors may insure projects for any combination of the four types of coverage;

(b) guarantee programmes to cover risk in the form of partial guarantees for debt financing. Both partial risk and partial credit guarantee shall be available; and

(c) national and regional guarantee funds, involving, in particular, domestic financial institutions or investors for encouraging the development of the financial sector.

3. Cooperation shall also provide support to capacity-building, institutional support and participation in the core funding of national and/or regional initiatives to reduce the commercial risks for investors (inter alia guarantee funds, regulatory bodies, arbitration mechanisms and judiciary systems to enhance the protection of investments improving the export credit systems).

4. Cooperation shall provide such support on the basis of complementary and added value with respect to private and/or public initiatives and, whenever feasible, in partnership with private and other public organisations. The ACP and the EC will within the framework of the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee undertake a joint study on the proposal to set up an ACP-EC Guarantee Agency to provide and manage investment guarantee programmes.

Article 78

Investment protection

1. The ACP States and the Community and its Member States, within the scope of their respective competencies, affirm the need to promote and protect either Party's investments on their respective territories, and in this context affirm the importance of concluding, in their mutual interest, investment promotion and protection agreements which could also provide the basis for insurance and guarantee schemes.

2. In order to encourage European investment in development projects of special importance to, and promoted by the ACP States, the Community and the Member States, on the one hand and the ACP States on the other, may also conclude agreements relating to specific projects of mutual interest where the Community and European enterprises contribute towards their financing.

3. The Parties also agree to introduce, within the economic partnership agreements, and while respecting the respective competencies of the Community and its Member States, general principles on protection and promotion of investments, which will endorse the best results agreed in the competent international fora or bilaterally.

TITLE III

TECHNICAL COOPERATION

Article 79

1. Technical cooperation shall assist the ACP States in the development of national and regional manpower resources, the sustained development of the institutions critical for development success, including inter alia strengthening ACP consulting firms and organisations, as well as exchange arrangements involving consultants from both ACP and EU firms.

2. Furthermore, technical cooperation, shall be cost-effective and relevant to the need for which it is intended, and shall also favour the transfer of know-how and increase national and regional capabilities. Technical cooperation shall contribute to the achievement of project and programme goals, including efforts to strengthen management capacity of the National and Regional Authorising Officers. Technical assistance shall:

(a) be demand-driven and thus made available only at the request of the ACP State or States concerned, and adapted to recipient needs;

(b) complement and support ACP efforts to identify their own requirements;

(c) be monitored and followed up to guarantee effectiveness;

(d) encourage the participation of ACP experts, consultancy firms and educational and research institutions in contracts financed from the Fund and identify ways of employing qualified national and regional personnel on Fund projects;

(e) encourage the secondment of ACP national cadres as consultants to an institution in their own country, or a neighbouring country, or to a regional organisation;

(f) aim at developing knowledge of national and regional manpower constraints and potential and establish a register of ACP experts, consultants and consultancy firms suitable for employment on projects and programmes financed from the Fund;

(g) support intra-ACP technical assistance in order to promote the exchange between the ACP States of technical assistance, management and professional expertise;

(h) develop action programmes for long-term institution building and staff development as an integral part of project and programme planning, account being taken of the necessary financial requirements;

(i) support arrangements to enhance the capacity of the ACP States to build up their own expertise; and

(j) give special attention to the development of the ACP States' capacities in project planning, implementation and evaluation, as well budget management.

3. Technical assistance may be provided in all areas of cooperation and within the limits of the mandate of this Agreement. The activities covered would be diverse in scope and nature, and would be tailored to meet the needs of the ACP States.

4. Technical cooperation may be either of a specific or a general nature. The ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee shall establish the guidelines for the implementation of technical cooperation.

Article 80

With a view to reversing the brain drain from the ACP States, the Community shall assist ACP States which so request to facilitate the return of qualified ACP nationals resident in developed countries through appropriate re-installation incentives.

TITLE IV

PROCEDURES AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Article 81

Procedures

Management procedures shall be transparent, easy to apply and shall enable the decentralisation of tasks and responsibilities to the field. The implementation of ACP-EU development cooperation shall be open to non-State actors in areas that concern them. The detailed procedural provisions for programming, preparation, implementation and the management of financial and technical cooperation are laid down in Annex IV on Implementation and Management Procedures. The Council of Ministers may review, revise and amend these provisions on the basis of a recommendation from the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee.

Article 82

Executing agents

For the implementation of financial and technical cooperation under this Agreement, executing agents are designated. Detailed provisions for the responsibilities of the executing agents are laid down in Annex IV on Implementation and Management Procedures.

Article 83

ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee

1. The Council of Ministers shall at least once a year examine whether the objectives of development finance cooperation are being attained and shall examine the general and specific problems resulting from the implementation of that cooperation. To this end, an ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee, hereinafter referred to as "the ACP-EC Committee", shall be set up within the Council of Ministers.

2. The ACP-EC Committee shall, inter alia:

(a) ensure the overall achievement of the objectives and principles of development finance cooperation and establish general guidelines for their effective and timely implementation;

(b) examine the problems arising from the implementation of development cooperation activities and propose appropriate measures;

(c) review the annexes to the Agreement to ensure their continued relevance and recommend any appropriate amendments to the Council of Ministers for approval; and

(d) examine the operations deployed within the framework of the Agreement to attain the objectives of promoting private sector development and investment and the operations of the Investment Facility.

3. The ACP-EC Committee, which shall meet every quarter, shall be composed, on a basis of parity, of representatives of the ACP States and of the Community, or their authorised representatives. It shall meet at ministerial level whenever one of the parties so requests and at least once a year.

4. The Council of Ministers shall lay down the ACP-EC Committee's rules of procedure, in particular the conditions for representation and the number of members of the Committee, the detailed arrangements for their deliberations and the conditions for holding the chair.

5. The ACP-EC Committee may convene meetings of experts to study the cause of any difficulties and bottlenecks, which may impede the efficient implementation of development cooperation. These experts shall make recommendations to the Committee on possible ways of removing such difficulties and bottlenecks.

PART 5

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR THE LEAST-DEVELOPED, LANDLOCKED AND ISLAND ACP STATES (LDLICS)

CHAPTER 1

General provisions

Article 84

1. To enable LDLICs to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the Agreement so as to step up their respective rates of development, cooperation shall ensure special treatment for the least developed ACP countries and take due account of the vulnerability of landlocked and island ACP countries. It shall also take into consideration the needs of countries in post-conflict situations.

2. Independently of the specific measures and provisions for the least-developed, landlocked and island countries in the different chapters of the Agreement, special attention shall be paid in respect of these groups as well as countries in post-conflict situations to:

(a) the strengthening of regional cooperation;

(b) transport and communications' infrastructure;

(c) the efficient exploitation of marine resources and the marketing of products so produced and, in the case of landlocked countries, inland fisheries;

(d) structural adjustment where account shall be taken of the level of development of these countries and equally, at the implementation stage, of the social dimension of adjustment; and

(e) the implementation of food strategies and integrated development programmes.

CHAPTER 2

Least-developed ACP States

Article 85

1. The least-developed ACP States shall be accorded a special treatment in order to enable them to overcome the serious economic and social difficulties hindering their development so as to step up their respective rates of development.

2. The list of least-developed countries is given in Annex VI. It may be amended by a decision of the Council of Ministers where:

(a) a third State in a comparable situation accedes to this Agreement; and

(b) the economic situation of an ACP State changes considerably and durably to the extent that it needs to be included in the least-developed category or its inclusion in that category is no longer justified.

Article 86

The provisions adopted in respect of the least-developed ACP States are contained in the following Articles: 2, 29, 32, 35, 37, 56, 68, 84, 85.

CHAPTER 3

Landlocked ACP States

Article 87

1. Specific provisions and measures shall be established to support landlocked ACP States in their efforts to overcome the geographical difficulties and other obstacles hampering their development so as to enable them to step up their respective rates of development.

2. The list of landlocked ACP States is given in Annex VI. It may be amended by decision of the Council of Ministers when a third State in a comparable situation accedes to the Agreement.

Article 88

The provisions adopted in respect of the landlocked ACP States are contained in the following Articles: 2, 32, 35, 56, 68, 84, 87.

CHAPTER 4

Island ACP States

Article 89

1. Specific provisions and measures shall be established to support island ACP States in their efforts to overcome the natural and geographical difficulties and other obstacles hampering their development so as to enable them to step up their respective rates of development.

2. The list of island ACP States is given in Annex VI. It may be amended by decision of the Council of Ministers when a third State in a comparable situation accedes to the Agreement.

Article 90

The provisions adopted in respect of the island ACP States are contained in the following Articles: 2, 32, 35, 56, 68, 84, 89.

PART 6

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 91

Conflict between this Agreement and other treaties

No treaty, convention, agreement or arrangement of any kind between one or more Member States of the Community and one or more ACP States may impede the implementation of this Agreement.

Article 92

Scope of territorial application

Subject to the special provisions regarding the relations between the ACP States and the French overseas departments provided for therein, this Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to the territories of the ACP States.

Article 93

Ratification and entry into force

1. This Agreement shall be ratified or approved by the signatory Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional rules and procedures.

2. The instruments of ratification or approval of this Agreement shall be deposited in the case of the ACP States, with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and in the case of the Community and the Member States, with the General Secretariat of the ACP States. The Secretariats shall promptly notify the signatory States and the Community.

3. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification of the Member States and of at least two-thirds of the ACP States, and of the instrument of approval of this Agreement by the Community.

4. An ACP signatory State that has not completed the procedures set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 by the date on which this Agreement enters into force as provided for in paragraph 3 may do so only within the 12 months following that date, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 6.

For such States this Agreement shall become applicable on the first day of the second month following the completion of these procedures. These States shall recognise the validity of any measure taken to implement the Agreement after the date of its entry into force.

5. The rules of procedure of the joint institutions set up under this Agreement shall lay down the conditions under which the representatives of signatory States referred to in paragraph 4 may attend those institutions as observers.

6. The Council of Ministers may decide to accord special support to ACP States party to previous ACP-EC Conventions which, in the absence of normally established government institutions, have not been able to sign or ratify this Agreement. This support may concern institution building and economic and social development activities, taking particular account of the needs of the most vulnerable sections of the population. In this context, such countries will be able to draw on the funds provided for in Part 4 of this Agreement for financial and technical cooperation.

By way of derogation from paragraph 4, the countries concerned which are signatories to the Agreement may complete the ratification procedures within twelve months of the restoration of government institutions.

The countries concerned which have neither signed nor ratified the Agreement may accede to it by means of the accession procedure provided for in Article 94.

Article 94

Accession

1. Any request for accession to this Agreement made by an independent State whose structural characteristics and economic and social situation are comparable to those of the ACP States shall be presented to the Council of Ministers.

If the request is approved by the Council of Ministers, the State concerned shall accede to this Agreement by depositing an act of accession with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, which shall send a certified copy to the ACP Secretariat and notify the Member States. The Council of Ministers may lay down any amending measures that might be necessary.

The State concerned shall enjoy the same rights and be subject to the same obligations as the ACP States. Its accession may not infringe on the benefits enjoyed by the ACP States signatory to this Agreement under the provisions on development cooperation financing. The Council of Ministers may lay down the conditions and specific arrangements for the accession of an individual State in a special protocol that shall form an integral part of the Agreement.

2. The Council of Ministers shall be advised of any request made by a third State to become a member of an economic grouping of ACP States.

3. The Council of Ministers shall be advised of any request made by a third State to become a member of the European Union. During the negotiations between the Union and the applicant State, the Community shall provide the ACP States with any relevant information and they in turn shall convey their concerns to the Community so that it can take them fully into account. The ACP Secretariat shall be notified by the Community of any accession to the European Union.

Any new Member State of the European Union shall become a Party to this Agreement from the date of its accession by means of a clause to that effect in the act of accession. If the act of accession to the Union does not provide for such automatic accession of the Member State to this Agreement, the Member State concerned shall accede by depositing an act of accession with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, which shall send a certified copy to the ACP Secretariat and notify the Member States.

The Parties shall review the effects of the accession of new Member States on this Agreement. The Council of Ministers may decide on any transitional or amending measures that might be necessary.

Article 95

Duration of the agreement and revision clause

1. This Agreement is hereby concluded for a period of twenty years, commencing on 1 March 2000.

2. Financial protocols are defined for each five-year period.

3. The Community and the Member States, on the one hand, and the ACP States, on the other, shall notify the other Party not later than 12 months before the expiry of each five-year period of any review of the provisions they desire to make with a view to a possible amendment of the Agreement. This shall not apply, however, to the provisions on economic and trade cooperation, for which a special review procedure is provided for. Notwithstanding this time limit, if one Party requests the review of any provisions of the Agreement, the other Party shall have a period of two months in which to request the extension of the review to other provisions related to those which were the subject of the initial request.

Ten months before the expiry of this five-year period, the Parties shall enter into negotiations with a view to examining any possible amendments to the provisions that were the subject of the notification.

Article 93 shall also apply to the amendments made.

The Council of Ministers shall adopt any transitional measures that may be required in respect of the amended provisions until they come into force.

4. Eighteen months before the end of the total period of the Agreement, the Parties shall enter into negotiations in order to examine what provisions shall subsequently govern their relations.

The Council of Ministers shall adopt any transitional measures that may be required until the new Agreement comes into force.

Article 96

Essential elements: consultation procedure and appropriate measures as regards human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law

1. Within the meaning of this Article, the term "Party" refers to the Community and the Member States of the European Union, of the one part, and each ACP State, of the other part.

2. (a) If, despite the political dialogue conducted regularly between the Parties, a Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation stemming from respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 9, it shall, except in cases of special urgency, supply the other Party and the Council of Ministers with the relevant information required for a thorough examination of the situation with a view to seeking a solution acceptable to the Parties. To this end, it shall invite the other Party to hold consultations that focus on the measures taken or to be taken by the party concerned to remedy the situation.

The consultations shall be conducted at the level and in the form considered most appropriate for finding a solution.

The consultations shall begin no later than 15 days after the invitation and shall continue for a period established by mutual agreement, depending on the nature and gravity of the violation. In any case, the consultations shall last no longer than 60 days.

If the consultations do not lead to a solution acceptable to both Parties, if consultation is refused, or in cases of special urgency, appropriate measures may be taken. These measures shall be revoked as soon as the reasons for taking them have disappeared.

(b) The term "cases of special urgency" shall refer to exceptional cases of particularly serious and flagrant violation of one of the essential elements referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 9, that require an immediate reaction.

The Party resorting to the special urgency procedure shall inform the other Party and the Council of Ministers separately of the fact unless it does not have time to do so.

(c) The "appropriate measures" referred to in this Article are measures taken in accordance with international law, and proportional to the violation. In the selection of these measures, priority must be given to those which least disrupt the application of this agreement. It is understood that suspension would be a measure of last resort.

If measures are taken in cases of special urgency, they shall be immediately notified to the other Party and the Council of Ministers. At the request of the Party concerned, consultations may then be called in order to examine the situation thoroughly and, if possible, find solutions. These consultations shall be conducted according to the arrangements set out in the second and third subparagraphs of paragraph (a).

Article 97

Consultation procedure and appropriate measures as regards corruption

1. The Parties consider that when the Community is a significant partner in terms of financial support to economic and sectoral policies and programmes, serious cases of corruption should give rise to consultations between the Parties.

2. In such cases either Party may invite the other to enter into consultations. Such consultations shall begin no later than 21 days after the invitation and shall last no longer than 60 days.

3. If the consultations do not lead to a solution acceptable to both Parties or if consultation is refused, the Parties shall take the appropriate measures. In all cases, it is above all incumbent on the Party where the serious cases of corruption have occurred to take the measures necessary to remedy the situation immediately. The measures taken by either Party must be proportional to the seriousness of the situation. In the selection of these measures, priority must be given to those which least disrupt the application of this agreement. It is understood that suspension would be a measure of last resort.

4. Within the meaning of this Article, the term "Party" refers to the Community and the Member States of the European Union, of the one part, and each ACP State, of the other part.

Article 98

Dispute settlement

1. Any dispute arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement between one or more Member States or the Community, on the one hand, and one or more ACP States on the other, shall be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

Between meetings of the Council of Ministers, such disputes shall be submitted to the Committee of Ambassadors.

2. (a) If the Council of Ministers does not succeed in settling the dispute, either Party may request settlement of the dispute by arbitration. To this end, each Party shall appoint an arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration. In the event of failure to do so, either Party may ask the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration to appoint the second arbitrator.

(b) The two arbitrators shall in turn appoint a third arbitrator within thirty days. In the event of failure to do so, either Party may ask the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration to appoint the third arbitrator.

(c) Unless the arbitrators decide otherwise, the procedure applied shall be that laid down in the optional arbitration regulation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration for International Organisations and States. The arbitrators' decisions shall be taken by majority vote within three months.

(d) Each Party to the dispute shall be bound to take the measures necessary to carry out the decision of the arbitrators.

(e) For the application of this procedure, the Community and the Member States shall be deemed to be one Party to the dispute.

Article 99

Denunciation clause

This Agreement may be denounced by the Community and its Member States in respect of each ACP State and by each ACP State in respect of the Community and its Member States, upon six months' notice.

Article 100

Status of the texts

The Protocols and Annexes attached to this Agreement shall form an integral part thereof. Annexes II, III, IV and VI may be revised, reviewed and/or amended by the Council of Ministers on the basis of a recommendation from the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee. This Agreement, drawn up in two copies in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, all texts being equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and the Secretariat of the ACP States, which shall both transmit a certified copy to the government of each of the Signatory States.

Hecho en Cotonú, el veintitrés de junio del año dos mil.

Udfærdiget i Cotonou den treogtyvende juni to tusind.

Geschehen zu Cotonou am dreiundzwanzigsten Juni zweitausend.

Έγινε στην Κοτονού, στις είκοσι τρεις Ιουνίου δύο χιλιάδες.

Done at Cotonou on the twenty-third day of June in the year two thousand.

Fait à Cotonou, le vingt-trois juin deux mille.

Fatto a Cotonou, addì ventitré giugno duemila.

Gedaan te Cotonou, de drieëntwintigste juni tweeduizend.

Feito em Cotonu, em vinte e três de Junho de dois mil.

Tehty Cotonoussa kahdentenakymmenentenäkolmantena päivänä kesäkuuta vuonna kaksituhatta.

Som skedde i Cotonou den tjugotredje juni tjugohundra.

Pour Sa Majesté le Roi des Belges

Voor Zijne Majesteit de Koning der Belgen

Für Seine Majestät den König der Belgier

Cette signature engage également la Communauté française, la Communauté flamande, la Communauté germanophone, la Région wallonne, la Région flamande et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.

Deze handtekening verbindt eveneens de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, de Franse Gemeenschap, de Duitstalige Gemeenschap, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Gewest.

Diese Unterschrift bindet zugleich die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, die Flämische Gemeinschaft, die Französische Gemeinschaft, die Wallonische Region, die Flämische Region und die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt.

For Hendes Majestæt Danmarks Dronning

Für den Präsidenten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Για τον Πρόεδρο της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας

Por Su Majestad el Rey de España

Pour le Président de la République française

Thar ceann Uachtarán na hÉireann

For the President of Ireland

Per il Presidente della Repubblica italiana

Pour Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc de Luxembourg

Voor Hare Majesteit de Koningin der Nederlanden

Für den Bundespräsidenten der Republik Österreich

Pelo Presidente da República Portuguesa

Suomen Tasavallan Presidentin puolesta

För Republiken Finlands President

På svenska regeringens vägnar

For Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Por la Comunidad Europea

For Det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunità europea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

Pour le Président de la République d'Angola

For Her Majesty the Queen of Antigua and Barbuda

For the Head of State of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas

For the Head of State of Barbados

For the Government of Belize

Pour le Président de la République du Bénin

For the President of the Republic of Botswana

Pour le Président du Burkina Faso

Pour le Président de la République du Burundi

Pour le Président de la République du Cameroun

Pour le Président de la République du Cap-Vert

Pour le Président de la République Centrafricaine

Pour le Président de la République Fédérale Islamique des Comores

Pour le Président de la République démocratique du Congo

Pour le Président de la République du Congo

For the Government of the Cook Islands

Pour le Président de la République de Côte d'Ivoire

Pour le Président de la République de Djibouti

For the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica

For the President of the Dominican Republic

For the President of the State of Eritrea

For the President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia

For the President of the Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji

Pour le Président de la République gabonaise

For the President and Head of State of the Republic of The Gambia

For the President of the Republic of Ghana

For Her Majesty the Queen of Grenada

Pour le Président de la République de Guinée

Pour le Président de la République de Guinée-Bissau

Pour le Président de la République de Guinée équatoriale

For the President of the Republic of Guyana

Pour le Président de la République d'Haïti

For the Head of State of Jamaica

For the President of the Republic of Kenya

For the President of the Republic of Kiribati

For His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Lesotho

For the President of the Republic of Liberia

Pour le Président de la République de Madagascar

For the President of the Republic of Malawi

Pour le Président de la République du Mali

For the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Pour le Président de la République Islamique de Mauritanie

For the President of the Republic of Mauritius

For the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Pour le Président de la République du Mozambique

For the President of the Republic of Namibia

For the Government of the Republic of Nauru

Pour le Président de la République du Niger

For the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

For the Government of Niue

For the Government of the Republic of Palau

For Her Majesty the Queen of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Pour le Président de la République Rwandaise

For Her Majesty the Queen of Saint Kitts and Nevis

For Her Majesty the Queen of Saint Lucia

For Her Majesty the Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

For the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa

Pour le Président de la République démocratique de São Tomé et Príncipe

Pour le Président de la République du Sénégal

Pour le Président de la République des Seychelles

For the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

For Her Majesty the Queen of the Solomon Islands

For the President of the Republic of South Africa

For the President of the Republic of the Sudan

For the President of the Republic of Suriname

For His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Swaziland

For the President of the United Republic of Tanzania

Pour le Président de la République du Tchad

Pour le Président de la République togolaise

For His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga

For the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

For Her Majesty the Queen of Tuvalu

For the President of the Republic of Uganda

For the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu

For the President of the Republic of Zambia

For the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe

ANNEXES TO THE AGREEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

>TABLE>

ANNEX I

FINANCIAL PROTOCOL

1. For the purposes set out in this Agreement and for a period of five years commencing 1 March 2000, the overall amount of the Community's financial assistance to the ACP States shall be EUR 15200 million.

2. The Community's financial assistance shall comprise an amount up to EUR 13500 million from the 9th European Development Fund (EDF).

3. The 9th EDF shall be allocated between the instruments of cooperation as follows:

(a) EUR 10000 million in the form of grants shall be reserved for an envelope for support for long-term development. This envelope shall be used to finance national indicative programmes in accordance with Articles 1 to 5 of Annex IV "Implementation and management procedures" to this Agreement. From the envelope for support for long-term development:

(i) EUR 90 million shall be reserved for the financing of the budget of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE);

(ii) EUR 70 million shall be reserved for the financing of the budget of the Centre for the Development of Agriculture (CTA); and

(iii) an amount not exceeding EUR 4 million shall be reserved for the purposes referred to in Article 17 of this Agreement (Joint Parliamentary Assembly).

(b) EUR 1300 million in the form of grants shall be reserved for the financing of support for regional cooperation and integration of the ACP States in accordance with Articles 6 to 14 of Annex IV "Implementation and management procedures" to this Agreement.

(c) EUR 2200 million shall be allocated to finance the Investment Facility according to the terms and conditions set out in Annex II "Terms and conditions of financing" to this Agreement without prejudice to the financing of the interest rate subsidies provided for in Articles 2 and 4 of Annex II to this Agreement funded from the resources mentioned in paragraph 3(a) of this Annex.

4. An amount of up to EUR 1700 million shall be provided from the European Investment Bank in the form of loans made from its own resources. These resources shall be granted for the purposes set out in Annex II "Terms and conditions of financing" to this Agreement in accordance with the conditions provided for by its statutes and the relevant provisions of the terms and conditions for investment financing as laid down in the aforementioned Annex. The Bank may, from the resources it manages, contribute to the financing of regional projects and programmes.

5. Any balances remaining from previous EDFs on the date of entry into force of this Financial Protocol, as well as any amounts that shall be decommitted at a later date from ongoing projects under these Funds, shall be transferred to the 9th EDF and shall be used in accordance with the conditions laid down in this Agreement. Any resources thus transferred to the 9th EDF that previously had been allocated to the indicative programme of an ACP State or region shall remain allocated to that State or region. The overall amount of this Financial Protocol, supplemented by the transferred balances from previous EDFs, will cover the period of 2000-2007.

6. The Bank shall administer the loans made from its own resources, as well as the operations financed under the Investment Facility. All other financial resources of this Agreement shall be administered by the Commission.

7. Before the expiry of this Financial Protocol, the Parties shall assess the degree of realisation of commitments and disbursements. This assessment shall constitute the basis for re-evaluating the overall amount of resources as well for evaluating the need for new resources to support financial cooperation under this Agreement.

8. In the event of the funds provided for in any of the instruments of the Agreement being exhausted before the expiry of this Financial Protocol, the joint ACP-EC Council of Ministers shall take the appropriate measures.

ANNEX II

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF FINANCING

CHAPTER 1

INVESTMENT FINANCING

Article 1

The terms and conditions of financing in relation to the operations of the Investment Facility (Facility), the loans from own resources of the European Investment Bank (Bank) and special operations shall be as laid down in this Chapter. These resources may be channelled to eligible enterprises, either directly or indirectly, through eligible investment funds and/or financial intermediaries.

Article 2

Resources of the investment facility

1. The resources of the Facility may be used, inter alia, to:

(a) provide risk capital in the form of:

(i) equity participation in ACP enterprises, including financial institutions;

(ii) quasi-capital assistance to ACP enterprises, including financial institutions; and

(iii) guarantees and other credit enhancements which may be used to cover political and other investment-related risks, both for foreign and local investors or lenders.

(b) provide ordinary loans.

2. Equity participation shall normally be for non-controlling minority holdings and shall be remunerated on the basis of the performance of the project concerned.

3. Quasi-capital assistance may consist of shareholders' advances, convertible bonds, conditional, subordinated and participating loans or any other similar form of assistance. Such assistance may consist in particular of:

(a) conditional loans, the servicing and/or the duration of which shall be linked to the fulfilment of certain conditions with regard to the performance of the project; in the specific case of conditional loans for pre-investment studies or other project-related technical assistance, servicing may be waived if the investment is not carried out;

(b) participating loans, the servicing and/or the duration of which shall be linked to the financial return of the project; and

(c) subordinated loans, which shall be repaid only after other claims have been settled.

4. The remuneration of each operation shall be specified when the loan is made. However:

(a) in the case of conditional or participating loans, the remuneration shall normally comprise a fixed interest rate of not more than 3 % and a variable component related to the performance of the project; and

(b) in the case of subordinated loans, the interest rate shall be market related.

5. Guarantees shall be priced so as to reflect the risks insured and the particular characteristics of the operation.

6. The interest rate of ordinary loans shall comprise a reference rate applied by the Bank for comparable loans with the same terms and conditions as to grace and repayment periods and a mark up determined by the Bank.

7. Ordinary loans may be extended on concessional terms and conditions in the following cases:

(a) for infrastructure projects in the Least Developed Countries or in post-conflict countries that are prerequisites for private sector development. In such cases, the interest rate of the loan will be reduced by 3 %; and

(b) for projects which involve restructuring operations in the framework of privatisation or for projects with substantial and clearly demonstrable social or environmental benefits. In such cases, loans may be extended with an interest rate subsidy the amount and form of which will be decided with respect to the particular characteristics of the project. However, the interest rate subsidy shall not be higher than 3 %.

The final interest rate shall, in any case, never be less than 50 % of the reference rate.

8. The funds to be provided for these concessional purposes will be made available from the Investment Facility and shall not exceed 5 % of the overall amount allocated for investment financing by the Investment Facility and by the Bank from its own resources.

9. Interest subsidies may be capitalised or may be used in the form of grants to support project-related technical assistance, particularly for financial institutions in the ACP countries.

Article 3

Operations of the investment facility

1. The Investment Facility shall operate in all economic sectors and support investments of private and commercially run public sector entities, including revenue generating economic and technological infrastructure critical for the private sector. The Facility shall:

(a) be managed as a revolving fund and aim at being financially sustainable. Its operations shall be on market-related terms and conditions and shall avoid creating distortions on local markets and displacing private sources of finances; and

(b) endeavour to have a catalytic effect by encouraging the mobilisation of long-term local resources and attracting foreign private investors and lenders to projects in the ACP States.

2. On expiry of the Financial Protocol, and in the absence of a specific decision by the Council of Ministers, the cumulative net reflows to the Investment Facility shall be carried over to the next Protocol.

Article 4

Bank own resource loans

1. The Bank shall:

(a) contribute, through the resources it manages, to the economic and industrial development of the ACP States on a national and regional basis; and to this end, finance as a priority productive projects and programmes or other investments aimed at promoting the private sector in all economic sectors;

(b) establish close cooperation links with national and regional development banks and with banking and financial institutions of the ACP States and of the EU; and

(c) in consultation with the ACP State concerned, adapt the arrangements and procedures for implementing development finance cooperation, as set out in this Agreement, if necessary, to take account of the nature of the projects and programmes and to act in accordance with the objectives of this Agreement, within the framework of the procedures laid down by its statute.

2. Loans from the Bank's own resources shall be granted under the following terms and conditions:

(a) the reference rate of interest shall be the rate applied by the Bank for a loan with the same conditions as to currency, and repayment period on the day of signature of the contract or on the date of disbursement;

(b) however:

(i) in principle, public sector projects shall be eligible for an interest rate subsidy of 3 %;

(ii) private sector projects falling into the categories specified in Article 2 (7)(b) shall be eligible for interest rates subsidies on the same terms as those specified in Article 2(7)(b).

The final interest rate shall, in any case, never be less than 50 % of the reference rate.

(c) the amount of the interest rate subsidy calculated in terms of its value at the times of disbursement of the loan shall be charged against the interest subsidy allocation of the Investment Facility as defined in Article 2(8) and 2(9), and paid directly to the Bank; and

(d) the repayment period of loans made by the Bank from its own resources shall be determined on the basis of the economic and financial characteristics of the project, but may not exceed 25 years. These loans shall normally comprise a grace period fixed by reference to the construction period of the project.

3. For investments financed by the Bank from its own resources in public sector companies, specific project-related guarantees or undertakings may be required from the ACP State concerned.

Article 5

Conditions for foreign exchange rate risk

In order to minimise the effects of exchange rate fluctuations, the problems of exchange rate risk shall be dealt with in the following way:

(a) in the case of equity participation designed to strengthen an enterprise's own funds, the exchange rate risk shall, as a general rule, be borne by the Investment Facility;

(b) in the case of risk capital financing for small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the exchange rate risk shall, as a general rule, be shared by the Community, on the one part, and by the other parties involved, on the other. On average, the foreign exchange rate risk shall be shared equally; and

(c) where feasible and appropriate, particularly in countries characterised by macroeconomic and financial stability, the Facility will endeavour to extend loans in local ACP currencies, thus de facto taking the foreign exchange risk.

Article 6

Conditions for foreign exchange transfer

The ACP States concerned shall, in respect of operations under the Agreement, and in respect of which they have given their written approval within the framework of this Agreement:

(a) grant exemption from all national or local duties, fiscal charges on interest, commission and amortisation of loans due in accordance with the law or laws of the ACP State or States concerned;

(b) place at the disposal of the beneficiaries the currency necessary for the payment of interest, commission and the amortisation of loans due in terms of financing contracts granted for the implementation of projects and programmes on their territories; and

(c) make available to the Bank the foreign currency necessary for the transfer of all sums received by it in national currency at the exchange rate applicable between the Euro or other currencies of transfer and the national currency at the date of the transfer. These include all forms of remuneration, such as, inter alia, interest, dividends, commissions and fees, as well as the amortisation of loans and the proceeds from the sale of shares due in terms of financing contracts granted for the implementation of projects and programmes on their territories.

CHAPTER 2

SPECIAL OPERATIONS

Article 7

1. Cooperation shall support from the grant allocation:

(a) low-income housing to promote long-term development of the housing sector, including secondary mortgage facilities;

(b) micro-finance to promote SMEs and micro-enterprises; and

(c) capacity building to strengthen and facilitate the effective participation of the private sector in social and economic development.

2. The ACP-EC Council of Ministers shall, after the signature of this Agreement and on a proposal by the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee, decide on the modalities and the amount of resources allocated from the long-term development envelope to attain these objectives.

CHAPTER 3

FINANCING FOR SHORT-TERM FLUCTUATIONS IN EXPORT EARNINGS

Article 8

1. The Parties recognise that losses of export earnings as a result of short-term fluctuations may jeopardise the development financing requirements and the implementation of macroeconomic and sectoral policies. The degree of dependence of an ACP State's economy on the export of goods, and in particular from agricultural and mining products shall, therefore, be a criterion for determining the allocation of long-term development.

2. In order to mitigate the adverse effects of instability of export earnings and safeguard the development programme jeopardised by the drop in revenue, additional financial support may be mobilised from the programmable resources for the country's long-term development on the basis of Articles 9 and 10.

Article 9

Eligibility criteria

1. Eligibility for additional resources shall be established by:

a) - a 10 % (2 % in the case of least-developed countries) loss of export earnings from goods compared with the arithmetical average of the earnings in the first three years of the first four years preceding the application year;

- or

- a 10 % (2 % in the case of least-developed countries ) loss of export earnings from the total of agricultural or mineral products compared with the arithmetical average of the earnings in the first three years of the first four years preceding the application year for countries where the agricultural or mineral export revenues represent more than 40 % of total export revenues from goods; and

(b) a 10 % worsening in the programmed public deficit programmed for the year in question or forecast for the following year.

2. Entitlement to additional support shall be limited to four successive years.

3. The additional resources shall be reflected in the public accounts of the country concerned. They shall be utilised in accordance with programming rules and methods including the specific provisions in Annex IV "Implementation and management procedures", on the basis of agreements drawn up in advance between the Community and the ACP State concerned in the year following the application. By agreement of both Parties the resources may be used to finance programmes included in national budget. However a part of the additional resources may also be set aside for specific sectors.

Article 1 0

Advances

The system for allocating additional resources shall provide for advances to cover any delays in obtaining consolidated trade statistics and to ensure that the resources in question can be included in the budget of the year following the application year. Advances shall be mobilised on the basis of provisional export statistics drawn up by the government and submitted to the Commission in advance of the official final consolidated statistics. The maximum advance shall be 80 % of the estimated amount of additional resources for the application year. The amounts thus mobilised shall be adjusted by common agreement between the Commission and the government in the light of final consolidated export statistics and the final figure of the public deficit.

Article 1 1

The provisions in this Chapter shall be subject to review at the latest after two years of operation and subsequently at the request of either Party..

CHAPTER 4

OTHER PROVISIONS

Article 12

Current payments and capital movements

1. Without prejudice to paragraph 3 hereafter, the Parties undertake to impose no restrictions on any payments, in freely convertible currency, on the current account of balance of payments between residents of the Community and of the ACP States.

2. With regard to transactions on the capital account of balance of payments, the Parties undertake to impose no restrictions on the free movement of capital relating to direct investments made in companies formed in accordance with the law of the host country and investments made in accordance with this Agreement, and the liquidation or repatriation of these investments and of any profit stemming therefrom.

3. Where one or more ACP State or one or more Member State of the Community is in serious balance of payments difficulties, or under threat thereof, the ACP State, the Member State or the Community may, in accordance with the conditions established under the GATT, GATS and Article VIII and XIV of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, adopt restrictions on current transactions which shall be of limited duration and may not go beyond what is necessary to remedy the balance of payments situation. The Party taking the measures shall inform the other Parties forthwith and shall submit to them as soon as possible a timetable for the elimination of the measures concerned.

Article 13

Qualification and treatment of business entities

As regards arrangements that may be applied in matters of establishment and provision of services, the ACP States, on the one hand, and the Member States, on the other, shall treat nationals and companies or firms of the ACP States and nationals and companies or firms of the Member States respectively on a non-discriminatory basis. However, if, for a given activity, an ACP State or a Member State is unable to provide such treatment, the ACP State or the Member State, as the case may be, shall not be bound to accord such treatment for that activity to the nationals and companies or firms of the State concerned.

Article 14

Definition of "companies and firms"

1. For the purpose of this Agreement, "companies or firms of a Member State or an ACP State" mean companies or firms constituted under civil or commercial law, including corporations, whether public or otherwise, cooperative societies and other legal persons and partnerships governed by public or private law, save for those which are non-profit-making, formed in accordance with the law of a Member State or an ACP State and whose statutory office, central administration or principal place of business is a Member State or an ACP State.

2. However, a company or firm having only its statutory office in a Member State or an ACP State must be engaged in an activity which has an effective and continuous link with the economy of that Member State or ACP State.

CHAPTER 5

INVESTMENT PROTECTION AGREEMENTS

Article 15

1. When implementing the provisions of Article 78 of this Agreement, the Parties shall take into account the following principles:

(a) a Contracting State may request where appropriate, the negotiation of an investment promotion and protection agreement with another Contracting State;

(b) the States party to such agreements shall practise no discrimination between Contracting States party to this Agreement or against each other in relation to third countries when opening negotiations for concluding, applying and interpreting bilateral or multilateral investment promotion and protection agreements;

(c) the Contracting States shall have the right to request a modification or adaptation of the non-discriminatory treatment referred to above when international obligations or changed circumstances so necessitate;

(d) the application of the principles referred to above does not purport to and cannot in practice infringe the sovereignty of any Contracting Party to the Agreement; and

(e) the relation between the date of entry into force of any agreement negotiated, provisions for the settlement of disputes and the date of the investments concerned will be set out in the said agreement, account being taken of the provisions set out above. The Contracting Parties confirm that retroactivity shall not apply as a general principle unless Contracting States stipulate otherwise.

2. With a view to facilitating the negotiation of bilateral agreements on investment promotion and protection, the Contracting Parties agree to study the main clauses of a model protection agreement. The study, drawing on the provisions of the existing bilateral agreements between the States Parties, will give particular attention to the following issues:

(a) legal guarantees to ensure fair and equitable treatment and protection of foreign investors;

(b) the most-favoured-investor clause;

(c) protection in the event of expropiation and nationalisation;

(d) the transfer of capital and profits, and

(e) international arbitration in the event of disputes between investor and host State.

3. The Parties agree to study the capacity of the guarantee systems to give a positive answer to the specific needs of small and medium-sized enterprises of insuring their investments in ACP States. The studies referred to above shall be started as soon as possible after the signing of the Agreement. The result of these studies shall be submitted, upon completion to the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee for consideration and appropriate action.

ANNEX III

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT - CDE AND CTA

Article 1

Cooperation shall support the institutional mechanisms that provide assistance for businesses and enterprises and promote agriculture and rural development. In this context, cooperation shall help to:

(a) strengthen and enhance the role of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) so as to provide the ACP private sector with the necessary support in the promotion of private sector development activities; and

(b) strengthen and reinforce the role of the Centre for the Development of Agriculture (CTA) in ACP institutional capacity development, particularly information management, in order to improve access to technologies for increasing agricultural productivity, commercialisation, food security and rural development.

Article 2

CDE

1. The CDE shall support the implementation of private-sector development strategies in the ACP countries by providing non-financial services to ACP companies and businesses and support to joint initiatives set up by economic operators of the Community and of the ACP States.

2. The CDE shall aim to assist private ACP enterprises to become more competitive in all sectors of the economy. It shall in particular:

(a) facilitate and promote business cooperation and partnerships between ACP and EU enterprises;

(b) assist with the development of business support services through support for capacity building in private sector owned organisations or support for providers of technical, professional, management, commercial and training support services;

(c) provide assistance for investment promotion activities, such as investment promotion organisations, organisation of investment conferences, training programmes, strategy workshops and follow-up investment promotion missions; and

(d) support for initiatives that contribute to develop and transfer technologies and know-how and best practices on all aspects of business management.

3. The CDE shall also:

(a) inform the ACP private sector about the provisions of the Agreement;

(b) diffuse information within the local ACP private sector about the product quality and standards required in external markets; and

(c) provide information to European companies and private sector organisations on business opportunities and modalities in ACP countries.

4. The CDE shall extend its support for enterprises through qualified and competent national and/or regional service-providing intermediaries.

5. The activities of the CDE shall be based on the concept of coordination, complementarity and added value in respect of any private sector development initiatives taken by public or private entities. The CDE shall exercise selectivity in undertaking its tasks.

6. The Committee of Ambassadors shall be the supervisory authority of the Centre. It shall, after the signature of this Agreement:

(a) lay down the statutes and rules of procedure of the Centre, including its supervisory bodies;

(b) lay down the statutes relating to staff, financial and staff regulations;

(c) supervise the work of the bodies of the Centre; and

(d) lay down the rules of operation and the procedures for the adoption of the Centre's budget.

7. The Committee of Ambassadors shall, in accordance with the procedures and criteria determined by it, appoint the members of the bodies of the Centre.

8. The budget of the Centre shall be financed in accordance with the rules laid down in this Agreement in respect of development finance cooperation.

Article 3

CTA

1. The mission of the CTA shall be to strengthen policy and institutional capacity development and information and communication management capacities of ACP agricultural and rural development organisations. It shall assist such organisations in formulating and implementing policies and programmes to reduce poverty, promote sustainable food security, preserve the natural resource base, and thus contribute to building self-reliance in ACP rural and agricultural development.

2. The CTA shall:

(a) develop and provide information services and ensure better access to research, training and innovations in the spheres of agricultural and rural development and extension, in order to promote agriculture and rural development; and

(b) develop and reinforce ACP capacities in order to:

(i) improve the formulation and management of agricultural and rural development policies and strategies at national and regional levels including improved capacity for data collection, policy research, analysis and formulation;

(ii) improve the information and communication management, in particular within the National Agricultural Strategy;

(iii) promote effective intra-institutional Information and Communication Management (ICM) for performance monitoring, as well as consortia with regional and international partners;

(iv) promote decentralised ICM at local and national levels;

(v) strengthen initiatives via regional cooperation; and

(vi) develop approaches for assessing the impact of policy on agricultural and rural development.

3. The Centre shall support regional initiatives and networks and shall progressively share capacity development programmes with appropriate ACP organisations. To this end, the Centre shall support decentralised regional information networks. Such networks shall be built up gradually and efficiently.

4. The Committee of Ambassadors shall be the supervisory authority of the Centre. It shall, after the signature of this Agreement:

(a) lay down the statutes and rules of procedures of the Centre, including its supervisory bodies;

(b) lay down the statutes relating to staff, financial and staff regulations;

(c) supervise the work of the bodies of the Centre; and

(d) lay down the rules of operation and the procedures for the adoption of the Centre's budget.

5. The Committee of Ambassadors shall, in accordance with the procedures and criteria determined by it, appoint the members of the bodies of the Centre.

6. The budget of the Centre shall be financed in accordance with the rules laid down in this Agreement in respect of development finance cooperation.

ANNEX IV

IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES

CHAPTER 1

PROGRAMMING (NATIONAL)

Article 1

Operations financed by grants within the framework of this Agreement shall be programmed at the beginning of the period covered by the Financial Protocol. Programming for this purpose shall mean:

(a) the preparation and development of a Country Support Strategy (CSS) based on the country's own medium-term development objectives and strategies;

(b) a clear indication from the Community of the indicative programmable financial allocation from which the country may benefit during the five-year period as well as any other relevant information;

(c) the preparation and adoption of an indicative programme for implementing the CSS; and

(d) a review process covering the CSS, the indicative programme and the volume of resources allocated to it.

Article 2

Country support strategy

The CSS shall be prepared by the ACP State concerned and the EU following consultations with a wide range of actors in the development process, and shall draw on lessons learned and best practices. Each CSS shall be adapted to the needs and respond to the specific circumstances of each ACP State. The CSS shall be an instrument to prioritise activities and to build local ownership of cooperation programmes. Any divergences between the country's own analysis and that of the Community shall be noted. The CSS shall include the following standard elements:

(a) an analysis of the political, economic and social country context, constraints, capacities and prospects including an assessment of basic needs, such as income per capita, population size and social indicators, and vulnerability;

(b) a detailed outline of the country's medium-term development strategy, clearly defined priorities and expected financing requirements;

(c) an outline of relevant plans and actions of other donors present in the country, in particular including those of the EU Member States in their capacity as bilateral donors;

(d) response strategies, detailing the specific contribution the EU can provide. These shall, to the extent possible, enable complementarity with operations financed by the ACP State itself and by other donors present in the country; and

(e) a definition of the nature and scope of the most appropriate support mechanisms to be applied in implementing the above strategies.

Article 3

Resource allocation

1. Resource allocation shall be based on needs and performance, as defined in this Agreement. In this context:

(a) needs shall be assessed on the basis of criteria pertaining to per capita income, population size, social indicators and level of indebtedness, export earning losses and dependence on export earnings, in particular from the sectors of agriculture and mining. Special treatment shall be accorded to the least developed ACP States and the vulnerability of island and landlocked states shall duly be taken into account. In addition, account shall be taken of the particular difficulties of post-conflict countries; and

(b) performance shall be assessed in an objective and transparent manner on the basis of the following parameters: progress in implementing institutional reforms, country performance in the use of resources, effective implementation of current operations, poverty alleviation or reduction, sustainable development measures and macroeconomic and sectoral policy performance.

2. The allocated resources shall comprise two elements:

(a) an allocation to cover macroeconomic support, sectoral policies, programmes and projects in support of the focal or non focal areas of Community assistance; and

(b) an allocation to cover unforeseen needs such as emergency assistance where such support cannot be financed from the EU budget, contributions to internationally agreed debt relief initiatives and support to mitigate adverse effects of instability in export earnings.

3. This indicative amount shall facilitate the long-term programming of Community aid for the country concerned. Together with the uncommitted balances of resources allocated to the country under previous EDF, and wherever possible Community budget resources, these allocations shall be the basis for the preparation of the indicative programme for the country concerned.

4. Provision will be made for those countries which, due to exceptional circumstances, can not access normal programmable resources.

Article 4

Preparation and adoption of the indicative programme

1. Upon receipt of the information referred to above, each ACP State shall draw up and submit to the Community a draft indicative programme on the basis of and consistent with its development objectives and priorities as expressed in the CSS. The draft indicative programme shall contain:

(a) the focal sector, sectors or areas on which support should be concentrated;

(b) the most appropriate measures and operations for attaining the objectives and targets in the focal sector, sectors or areas;

(c) the resources reserved for projects and programmes outside the focal sector(s) and/or the broad outlines of such activities, as well as an indication of the resources to be deployed for each of these elements;

(d) identification of eligible non-State actors and the resources allocated for non-State actors;

(e) proposals for regional projects and programmes; and

(f) a reserve for insurance against possible claims and to cover cost increases and contingencies.

2. The draft indicative programme shall, as appropriate, contain the resources reserved to reinforce human, material and institutional ACP capacity for preparing and implementing national and regional indicative programmes and for improving the management of the ACP States' public investment projects cycle.

3. The draft indicative programme shall be the subject of an exchange of views between the ACP State concerned and the Community. The indicative programme shall be adopted by common agreement between the Community and the ACP State concerned. It shall, when adopted, be binding on both the Community and that State. This indicative programme shall be annexed to the CSS and shall in addition contain:

(a) specific and clearly identified operations, especially those that can be committed before the next review;

(b) a timetable for implementation and review of the indicative programme, including commitments and disbursements of resources; and

(c) the parameters and criteria for the reviews.

4. The Community and the ACP State concerned shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the programming process is completed within the shortest possible time and, save in exceptional circumstances, within twelve months of the signing of the Financial Protocol. In this context, the preparation of the CSS and the indicative programme must be part of a continuous process leading to the adoption of a single document.

Article 5

Review process

1. Financial cooperation between the ACP State and the Community shall be sufficiently flexible to ensure that operations are kept constantly in line with the objectives of this Agreement and to take account of any changes occurring in the economic situation, priorities and objectives of the ACP State concerned. In this context, the National Authorising Officer and the Head of Delegation shall:

(a) annually undertake an operational review of the indicative programme; and

(b) undertake a mid-term and end-of-term review of the CSS and the indicative programme in the light of current needs and performance.

2. In exceptional circumstances referred to in the provisions on humanitarian and emergency assistance, the review can be carried out on the demand of either Party.

3. The National Authorising Officer and the Head of Delegation shall:

(a) take all necessary measures to ensure adherence to the provisions of the indicative programme, including ensuring that the timetable of commitments and disbursements agreed at the time of programming is adhered to; and

(b) determine any causes of delay in implementation and propose suitable measures to remedy the situation.

4. The annual operational review of the indicative programme shall consist of a joint assessment of the implementation of the programme and take into account the results of relevant activities of monitoring and evaluation. This review shall be conducted locally and shall be finalised between the National Authorising Officer and the Head of Delegation within a period of 60 days. It shall in particular cover an assessment of:

(a) the results achieved in the focal sector(s) measured against the identified targets and impact indicators and sectoral policy commitments;

(b) projects and programmes outside the focal sector(s) and/or in the framework of multi-annual programmes;

(c) the use of resources set aside for non-State actors;

(d) the effectiveness in implementation of current operations and the extent to which the timetable for commitments and payments have been respected; and

(e) an extension of the programming perspective for the following years.

5. The National Authorising Officer and the Head of Delegation shall submit the report on the conclusion of the annual review to the Development Finance Cooperation Committee, within 30 days of the completion of the operational review. The Committee shall examine the report in accordance with its responsibilities and powers under the Agreement.

6. In the light of the annual operational reviews, the National Authorising Officer and the Head of Delegation may at the mid-term and end-of-term reviews, and within the above time frames, review and adapt the CSS:

(a) where operational reviews indicate specific problems; and/or

(b) in the light of changed circumstances of an ACP State.

Such reviews shall be completed within a further period of 30 days of the finalisation of the mid-term and end-of-term reviews. The end of Financial Protocol review shall also include adaptation for the new financial protocol in terms of both resource allocation and preparation for the next programme.

7. Following the completion of mid-term and end-of-term reviews, the Community may revise the resource allocation in the light of current needs and performance of the ACP State concerned.

CHAPTER 2

PROGRAMMING AND PREPARATION (REGIONAL)

Article 6

Participation

1. Regional cooperation shall cover operations benefiting and involving:

(a) two or more or all ACP States; and/or

(b) a regional body of which at least two ACP States are members.

2. Regional cooperation can also involve Overseas Countries and Territories and outermost regions. The funding to enable participation of these territories shall be additional to funds allocated to the ACP States under the Agreement.

Article 7

Regional programmes

The ACP States concerned shall decide on the definition of geographical regions. To the maximum extent possible, regional integration programmes should correspond to programmes of existing regional organisations with a mandate for economic integration. In principle, in case the membership of several relevant regional organisations overlaps, the regional integration programme should correspond to the combined membership of these organisations. In this context, the Community will provide specific support from regional programmes to groups of ACP States who are committed to negotiate economic partnership agreements with the EU.

Article 8

Regional programming

1. Programming shall take place at the level of each region. The programming shall be a result of an exchange of views between the Commission and the duly mandated regional organisation(s) concerned, and in the absence of such a mandate, the National Authorising Officers of the countries in that region. Where appropriate, programming may include a consultation with eligible non-State actors.

2. Programming for this purpose shall mean:

(a) preparation and development of a Regional Support Strategy (RSS) based on the region's own medium-term development objectives and strategies;

(b) a clear indication from the Community of the indicative resource allocation from which the region may benefit during the five-year period as well as any other relevant information;

(c) preparation and adoption of a Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) for implementing the RSS; and

(d) a review process covering the RSS, the RIP and the volume of resources allocated to each region.

3. The RSS shall be prepared by the Commission and the duly mandated regional organisation(s) in collaboration with the ACP States in the region concerned. The RSS will be an instrument to prioritise activities and to build local ownership of supported programmes. The RSS shall include the following standard elements:

(a) an analysis of the political, economic and social context of the region;

(b) an assessment of the process and prospects of regional economic integration and integration into the world economy;

(c) an outline of the regional strategies and priorities pursued and the expected financing requirements;

(d) an outline of relevant activities of other external partners in regional cooperation; and

(e) an outline of the specific EU contribution towards achievement of the goals for regional cooperation and integration, complementary insofar as possible to operations financed by the ACP States themselves and by other external partners, particularly the EU Member States.

Article 9

Resource allocation

At the beginning of the period covered by the Financial Protocol, each region shall receive from the Community an indication of the volume of resources from which it may benefit during a five-year period. The indicative resource allocation shall be based on an estimate of need and the progress and prospects in the process of regional cooperation and integration. In order to achieve an adequate scale and to increase efficiency, regional and national funds may be mixed for financing regional operations with a distinct national component.

Article 10

Regional indicative programme

1. On the basis of the resource allocation indicated above, the duly mandated regional organisation(s), and in the absence of such a mandate, the National Authorising Officers of the countries in the region, shall draw up a draft Regional Indicative Programme. In particular, the draft programme shall specify:

(a) the focal sectors and themes of Community aid;

(b) the most appropriate measures and operations to achieve the objectives set for those sectors and themes; and

(c) the projects and programmes enabling those objectives to be attained, insofar as they have been clearly identified as well as an indication of the resources to be deployed for each of these elements and a timetable for their implementation.

2. The Regional Indicative Programmes shall be adopted by common agreement between the Community and the ACP States concerned.

Article 11

Review process

Financial cooperation between each ACP region and the Community shall be sufficiently flexible to ensure that operations are kept constantly in line with the objectives of this Agreement and to take account of any changes occurring in the economic situation, priorities and objectives of the region concerned. A mid-term and end-of-term review of the regional indicative programmes shall be undertaken to adapt the indicative programme to evolving circumstances and to ensure that they are correctly implemented. Following the completion of mid-term and end-of-term reviews, the Community may revise the resource allocation in the light of current needs and performance.

Article 12

Intra-ACP cooperation

At the beginning of the period covered by the Financial Protocol, the Community shall indicate to the ACP Council of Ministers the part of the funds earmarked for regional operations that shall be set aside for operations that benefit many or all ACP States. Such operations may transcend the concept of geographic location.

Article 13

Requests for financing

1. Requests for financing of regional programmes shall be submitted by:

(a) a duly mandated regional body or organisation; or

(b) a duly mandated sub-regional body, organisation or an ACP State in the region concerned at the programming stage, provided that the operation has been identified in the RIP.

2. Requests for intra-ACP programmes shall be submitted by:

(a) at least 3 mandated regional bodies or organisations belonging to different geographic regions, or the National Authorising Officers of such regions; or

(b) the ACP Council of Ministers, or, by specific delegation, the ACP Committee of Ambassadors; or

(c) international organisations carrying out operations that contribute to the objectives of regional cooperation and integration, subject to prior approval by the ACP Committee of Ambassadors.

Article 14

Procedures for implementation

1. Regional programmes shall be implemented by the requesting body or any other duly authorised institution or body.

2. Intra-ACP programmes shall be implemented by the requesting body or their duly authorised agent. In the absence of a duly authorised implementing body, and without prejudice to ad hoc projects and programmes managed by the ACP Secretariat, the Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of intra-ACP operations.

3. Account being taken of the objectives and inherent characteristics of regional cooperation, operations undertaken in this sphere shall be governed by the procedures established for development finance cooperation where applicable.

CHAPTER 3

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Article 15

Project identification, preparation and appraisal

1. Projects and programmes that have been presented by the ACP State shall be subject to joint appraisal. The ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee shall develop the general guidelines and criteria for appraisal of projects and programmes.

2. Project or programme dossiers prepared and submitted for financing must contain all information necessary for the appraisal of the projects or programmes or, where such projects and programmes have not been completely defined, provide the broad outlines necessary for their appraisal. Such dossiers shall be officially transmitted to the Community by the ACP States or the other eligible beneficiaries in accordance with this Agreement.

3. Project and programme appraisal shall, take due account of national human resource constraints and ensure a strategy favourable to the promotion of such resources. It shall also take into account the specific characteristics and constraints of each ACP State.

Article 16

Financing proposal and decision

1. The conclusions of the appraisal shall be summarised in a financing proposal drawn up by the Community in close collaboration with the ACP State concerned. This financing proposal shall be submitted for approval by the Commission's decision-making body.

2. The financing proposal shall contain an advance timetable for the technical and financial implementation of the project or programme, including multi-annual programmes and global allocations for operations of a small financial scale, and shall deal with the duration of the different phases of implementation. The financing proposal shall:

(a) take into account the comments of the ACP State or States concerned; and

(b) be forwarded simultaneously to the ACP State or States concerned and the Community.

3. The Commission shall finalise the financing proposal and forward it, with or without amendment, to the Community's decision-making body. The ACP State or States concerned shall be given an opportunity to comment on any amendment of substance which the Commission intends to make to the document. These comments shall be reflected in the amended financing proposal.

4. The Community's decision-making body shall communicate its decision within 120 days from the date of communication of the financial proposal referred to above.

5. Where the financing proposal is not adopted by the Community, the ACP State or States concerned shall be informed immediately of the reasons for that decision. In such a case, the representatives of the ACP State or States concerned may, within 60 days thereafter, request either:

(a) that the matter be referred to the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee set up under the Agreement; or

(b) that they be given a hearing by the Community's decision-making body.

6. Following such a hearing, a definitive decision to adopt or reject the financing proposal shall be taken by the relevant Community body to which the ACP State or States concerned may forward, before the decision is taken, any facts which may appear necessary to supplement the information available to it.

7. Multi-annual programmes shall, inter alia, finance training, decentralised operations, micro-projects, trade promotion and trade development, sets of operations of a limited scale in a specific sector, project/programme management support and technical cooperation.

8. In cases referred to above, the ACP State concerned may submit to the Head of Delegation a multi-annual programme setting out its broad outlines, the types of actions envisaged and the financial commitment proposed:

(a) the financing decision on each multi-annual programme shall be taken by the Chief Authorising Officer. The letter from the Chief Authorising Officer to the National Authorising Officer notifying such decision shall constitute the financing agreement; and

(b) within the framework of multi-annual programmes thus adopted, the National Authorising Officer or, when the case arises, the agent of decentralised cooperation which has been delegated functions for this purpose or, in appropriate cases, other eligible beneficiaries shall implement each individual action in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement and the terms of the financing agreement referred to above. Where implementation is to be carried out by agents of decentralised cooperation or other eligible beneficiaries, the National Authorising Officer and the Head of Delegation shall maintain financial responsibility and monitor the operations regularly with a view to enabling them, inter alia, to carry out their obligations.

9. At the end of each year, the National Authorising Officer in consultation with the Head of Delegation, shall forward a report to the Commission on the implementation of the multi-annual programmes.

Article 17

Financing agreement

1. Save as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, for any project or programme financed by a grant from the Fund, a financing agreement shall be drawn up between the Commission and the ACP State or States concerned. Where the direct beneficiary is not an ACP State, the Commission shall formalise the financing decision by means of an exchange of letters with the beneficiary concerned.

2. The financing agreement shall be drawn up between the Commission and the ACP State or States concerned within 60 days of the decision of the Community's decision-making body. The agreement shall:

(a) specify, in particular the details of the Fund's financial commitment and the financing arrangements and terms, the general and specific provisions relating to the project or programme concerned and shall also incorporate the advance timetable for the technical implementation of the project or programme contained in the financing proposal; and

(b) make adequate provision for appropriations to cover cost increases and contingencies.

3. Once the financing agreement has been signed, disbursements shall be made in accordance with the financing plan laid down therein. Any unexpended balance left upon closure of the accounts of projects and programmes shall accrue to the ACP State concerned and shall be so specified in the Fund's books. It may be used in the manner laid down in this Agreement for the financing of projects and programmes.

Article 18

Cost over-runs

1. Once it appears that cost over-runs beyond the limit set in the financing agreement are likely to be incurred, the National Authorising Officer shall, through the Head of Delegation, notify the Chief Authorising Officer accordingly, as well as of the measures which the National Authorising Officer intends to take in order to cover such cost over-runs over the allocated appropriations, either by reducing the scale of the project or programme or by calling on national or other non-Community resources.

2. If it is decided by agreement with the Community not to scale down the project or programme or if it is not possible to cover them by other resources, then such over-runs may be financed up to 20% of the financial commitment for the project or programme concerned from the indicative programme.

Article 19

Retroactive financing

1. In order to ensure early project start-up, avoid gaps between sequential projects and prevent delays, the ACP States, in agreement with the Commission, may, on completion of project appraisal and before the financing decision is taken:

(a) issue invitations to tender for all types of contracts, with a suspension clause; and

(b) pre-finance activities linked to the start-up of programmes, preliminary and seasonal work, orders for equipment with long delivery lead times as well as some on-going operations. Such expenditures must satisfy the procedures provided for in the Agreement.

2. These provisions do not prejudge the powers of the Community's decision-making body.

3. Expenditure made by the ACP State in pursuance of this provision shall be retroactively financed under the project or programme, once the financing agreement is signed.

CHAPTER 4

COMPETITION AND PREFERENCES

Article 20

Eligibility

Save where a derogation is granted in accordance with the General Regulations for contracts or Article 22:

(a) participation in invitations to tender and the award of the contracts financed by the Fund shall be open on equal terms to:

(i) natural persons, companies or firms or public or semi-public agencies of the ACP States and the Member States;

(ii) cooperative societies and other legal persons governed by public or private law, of the Member States and/or the ACP States; and

(iii) joint ventures or groupings of companies or firms of ACP States and/or of a Member State.

(b) supplies must originate in the Community and/or the ACP States. In this context, the definition of the concept of "originating products" shall be assessed by reference to the relevant international agreements and supplies originating in the Community shall include supplies originating in the Overseas Countries and Territories.

Article 21

Participation on equal terms

The ACP States and the Commission shall take the necessary measures to ensure the widest possible participation on equal terms in invitations to tender for works, supplies and services contracts, including, as appropriate, measures to:

(a) ensure publication of invitations to tender in the Official Journal of the European Communities, the Internet, the Official Journals of all the ACP States and any other appropriate information media;

(b) eliminate discriminatory practices or technical specifications which might stand in the way of widespread participation on equal terms;

(c) encourage cooperation between the companies and firms of the Member States and of the ACP States;

(d) ensure that all the awarding criteria are specified in the tender dossier; and

(e) ensure that the tender selected conforms to the requirements of the tender dossier and meets the awarding criteria stated therein.

Article 22

Derogation

1. In order to ensure the optimum cost-effectiveness of the system, natural or legal persons from non-ACP developing countries may be authorised to participate in contracts financed by the Community at the request of the ACP States concerned. The ACP States concerned shall, on each occasion, provide the Head of Delegation with the information needed for the Community to decide on such derogation, with particular attention being given to:

(a) the geographical location of the ACP State concerned;

(b) the competitiveness of contractors, suppliers and consultants from the Member States and the ACP States;

(c) the need to avoid excessive increases in the cost of performance of the contract;

(d) transport difficulties or delays due to delivery times or other similar problems; and

(e) technology that is the most appropriate and best suited to local conditions.

2. Participation by third countries in contracts financed by the Community may also be authorised:

(a) where the Community participates in the financing of regional or inter-regional schemes involving such countries;

(b) in the case of co-financing projects and programmes; and

(c) in the case of emergency assistance.

3. In exceptional cases and in agreement with the Commission, consultancy firms with experts who are nationals of third countries may participate in service contracts.

Article 23

Competition

1. To simplify and streamline the general rules and regulations for competition and preferences for EDF financed operations, contracts shall be awarded through open and restricted procedures as well as framework contract, direct agreement contracts and direct labour as follows:

(a) open international invitation to tender through or after the publication of a procurement notice in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;

(b) open local invitation to tender where the procurement notice is published exclusively in the beneficiary ACP State;

(c) restricted international invitation to tender where the Contracting Authority invites a limited number of candidates to take part in the call for tender after the publication of a pre-information notice;

(d) direct agreement contracts which involve simplified procedure where the publication of the procurement notice is dispensed with and the Contracting Authority invites a limited number of service providers to present their offers; and

(e) direct labour agreement where contracts are performed through public or semi-public agencies and departments of the beneficiary States concerned.

2. Contracts financed from the Fund shall be concluded in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) works contracts of a value:

(i) higher than EUR 5000000 shall be awarded in an open international invitation to tender;

(ii) between EUR 300000 and EUR 5000000 shall be awarded through an open local invitation to tender; and

(iii) lower than EUR 300000 shall be awarded by direct agreement contract which involves a simplified procedure without publication of a procurement notice.

(b) supply contracts of a value:

(i) higher than EUR 150000 shall be awarded through an open international invitation to tender;

(ii) between EUR 30000 and EUR 150000 shall be awarded through an open local invitation to tender; and

(iii) below EUR 30000 shall be awarded by direct agreement contract which involves a simplified procedure without publication of a procurement notice.

(c) service contracts of a value:

(i) higher than EUR 200000 shall be awarded through a restricted international tender after publication of a procurement notice; and

(ii) below EUR 200000 shall be awarded by direct agreement contract which involves a simplified procedure or a framework contract.

3. For works, supply and service contracts with a value of EUR 5000 or less, these can be awarded directly without competition.

4. In case of restricted invitation to tender, a short-list of prospective tenderers shall be drawn up by the ACP State or States concerned in agreement with the Head of Delegation following, where applicable, a call for pre-qualification of tenders based on the publication of a procurement notice.

5. In case of direct-agreement contracts, the ACP State shall enter freely into such discussions as it may consider appropriate with the prospective tenderers whom it has short-listed in accordance with the Articles 20 to 22 and award the contract to the tenderers whom it has selected.

6. The ACP States may request the Commission to negotiate, draw up, conclude and implement service contracts directly on their behalf or through its relevant agency.

Article 24

Direct labour

1. In case of direct labour operations, projects and programmes shall be implemented through public or semi-public agencies or departments of the State or States concerned or by the person responsible for executing the operation.

2. The Community shall contribute to the costs of the department involved by providing the equipment and/or materials that it lacks and/or resources to allow it to acquire additional staff required in the form of experts from within the ACP States concerned or other ACP States. The participation of the Community shall cover only costs incurred by supplementary measures and temporary expenditure relating to execution strictly confined to the requirements of the project in question.

Article 25

Emergency assistance contracts

Contracts under emergency assistance shall be undertaken in such a way as to reflect the urgency of the situation. To this end, for all operations relating to emergency assistance, the ACP State may, in agreement with the Head of Delegation, authorise:

(a) the conclusion of contracts by direct agreement;

(b) the performance of contracts by direct labour;

(c) implementation through specialised agencies; and

(d) direct implementation by the Commission.

Article 26

Preferences

Measures shall be taken to encourage the widest participation of the natural and legal persons of ACP States in the performance of contracts financed by the Fund in order to permit the optimisation of the physical and human resources of those States. To this end:

(a) for works contracts of a value of less than EUR 5000000, tenderers of the ACP States, provided that at least one quarter of the capital stock and management staff originates from one or more ACP States, shall be accorded a 10 % price preference where tenders of an equivalent economic, technical and administrative quality are compared;

(b) for supply contracts, irrespective of the value of the supplies, tenderers of the ACP States who offer supplies of at least 50 % in contract value of ACP origin, shall be accorded a 15 % price preference where tenders of equivalent economic, technical and administrative quality are compared;

(c) in respect of service contracts, given the required competence, preference shall be given to;

(i) experts, institutions or consultancy companies or firms from ACP States where tenders of equivalent economic and technical quality are compared,

(ii) offers submitted by an ACP firm in a consortium with European partners, and

(iii) offers presented by European tenderers with ACP sub-contractors or experts.

(d) where subcontracting is envisaged, preference shall be given by the successful tenderer to natural persons, companies and firms of ACP States capable of performing the contract required on similar terms; and

(e) the ACP State may, in the invitation to tender, propose to the prospective tenderers the assistance of other ACP States' companies or firms or national experts or consultants selected by mutual agreement. This cooperation may take the form either of a joint venture, or of a subcontract or of on-the-job training of trainees.

Article 27

Award of contracts

1. Without prejudice to Article 24, the ACP State shall award the contract to the tenderer:

(a) whose tender is found to be responsive to the tender dossier;

(b) for a works or supply contract, who has offered the most advantageous tender as assessed, inter alia, on the basis of:

(i) the price, the operating and maintenance costs;

(ii) the qualifications of, and the guarantees offered by the tenderers, as well as the technical qualities of the tender, including the offer of an after-sales service in the ACP State; and

(iii) the nature of, the conditions and the time limit for executing the contracts, and the adaptation to local conditions.

(c) for a service contract who offers the most advantageous tender taking into account, inter alia, the price, the technical value of the tender, the organisation and the methodology proposed for the provision of the services as well as the competence, independence and availability of the personnel proposed.

2. Where two tenders are acknowledged to be equivalent on the basis of the criteria stated above, preference shall be given:

(a) to the tenderer of an ACP State; or

(b) if no such tender is forthcoming, to the tenderer who:

(i) permits the best possible use of the physical and human resources of the ACP States;

(ii) offers the greatest subcontracting possibilities to ACP companies, firms or natural persons; or

(iii) is a consortium of natural persons, companies and firms from ACP States and the Community.

Article 28

General regulations for contracts

1. The award of contracts financed from the resources of the Fund shall be governed by this Annex and the procedures which shall be adopted by decision of the Council of Ministers at the first meeting following the signing of this Agreement, upon the recommendation of the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee. These procedures shall respect the provisions of this Annex and the Community's procurement rules for cooperation with third countries.

2. Pending the adoption of these procedures, the current EDF rules as contained in the current general regulations and general conditions of contracts shall apply.

Article 29

General conditions for contracts

Performance of works, supply and service contracts financed from the resources of the Fund shall be governed by:

(a) the general conditions applicable to contracts financed by the Fund which shall be adopted by decision of the Council of Ministers at the first meeting following the signing of this Agreement, upon the recommendation of the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee; or

(b) in the case of co-financed projects and programmes, or where a derogation to third parties has been granted or in accelerated procedures or in other appropriate cases, such other general conditions as may be agreed by the ACP State concerned and the Community, i.e.:

(i) the general conditions for contracts prescribed by the national legislation of the ACP State concerned or its established practices regarding international contracts; or

(ii) any other international general conditions for contracts.

Article 30

Settlement of disputes

Any dispute arising between the authorities of an ACP State and a contractor, supplier or provider of services during the performance of a contract financed by the Fund shall:

(a) in the case of a national contract, be settled in accordance with the national legislation of the ACP State concerned; and

(b) in the case of a transnational contract be settled either:

(i) if the Parties to the contract so agree, in accordance with the national legislation of the ACP State concerned or its established international practices; or

(ii) by arbitration in accordance with the procedural rules which will be adopted by decision of the Council of Ministers at the first meeting following the signing of this Agreement, upon the recommendation of the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee.

Article 31

Tax and customs arrangements

1. The ACP States shall apply to contracts financed by the Community tax and customs arrangements no less favourable than those applied by them to the most favoured States or international development organisations with which they have relations. For the purpose of determining the most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment, account shall not be taken of arrangements applied by the ACP State concerned to other ACP States, or to other developing countries.

2. Subject to the above provisions the following shall apply to contracts financed by the Community:

(a) the contract shall not be subject in the beneficiary ACP State to stamp or registration duties or to fiscal charges having equivalent effect, whether such charges already exist or are to be instituted in the future; however, such contracts shall be registered in accordance with the laws in force in the ACP State and a fee corresponding to the service rendered may be charged for it;

(b) profits and/or income arising from the performance of contracts shall be taxable according to the internal fiscal arrangements of the ACP State concerned, provided that the natural or legal persons who realise such profit and/or income have a permanent place of business in that State, or that the performance of the contract takes longer than six months;

(c) enterprises which must import professional equipment in order to carry out works contracts shall, if they so request, benefit from the system of temporary admission as laid down by the national legislation of the beneficiary ACP State in respect of the said equipment;

(d) professional equipment necessary for carrying out tasks defined in a service contract shall be temporarily admitted into the beneficiary ACP State or States in accordance with its national legislation free of fiscal, import and customs duties and of other charges having equivalent effect where these duties and charges do not constitute remuneration for services rendered;

(e) imports under supply contracts shall be admitted into the beneficiary ACP State without customs duties, import duties, taxes or fiscal charges having equivalent effect. The contract for supplies originating in the ACP State concerned shall be concluded on the basis of the ex-works price of the supplies to which may be added such internal fiscal charges as may be applicable to those supplies in the ACP State;

(f) fuels, lubricants and hydrocarbon binders and, in general, all materials used in the performance of works contracts shall be deemed to have been purchased on the local market and shall be subject to fiscal rules applicable under the national legislation in force in the beneficiary ACP State; and

(g) personal and household effects imported for use by natural persons, other than those recruited locally, engaged in carrying out tasks defined in a service contract and members of their families, shall be exempt from customs or import duties, taxes and other fiscal charges having equivalent effect, within the limit of the national legislation in force in the beneficiary ACP State.

3. Any matter not covered by the above provisions on tax and customs arrangements shall remain subject to the national legislation of the ACP State concerned.

CHAPTER 5

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Article 32

Objectives

The objective of monitoring and evaluation shall consist in the regular assessment of development operations (preparation, implementation and subsequent operation) with a view to improving the development effectiveness of on-going and future operations.

Article 33

Modalities

1. Without prejudice to evaluations carried out by the ACP States or the Commission, this work will be done jointly by the ACP State(s) and the Community. The ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee shall ensure the joint character of the joint monitoring and evaluation operations. In order to assist the ACP-EC Development Finance Cooperation Committee, the Commission and the ACP General Secretariat shall prepare and implement the joint monitoring and evaluations and report to the Committee. The Committee shall, at its first meeting after the signature of the Agreement, fix the operational modalities aimed at ensuring the joint character of the operations and shall, on a yearly basis, approve the work programme.

2. Monitoring and evaluation activities shall notably:

(a) provide regular and independent assessments of the Fund's operations and activities by comparing results with objectives; and thereby

(b) enable the ACP States and the Commission and the Joint Institutions, to feed the lessons of experience back into the design and execution of future policies and operations.

CHAPTER 6

MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTING AGENTS

Article 34

The Chief Authorising Officer

1. The Commission shall appoint the Chief Authorising Officer of the Fund, who shall be responsible for managing the resources of the Fund. The Chief Authorising Officer shall be responsible for commitment, clearance, authorisation and accounting of expenditure under the Fund.

2. The Chief Authorising Officer shall:

(a) commit, clear and authorise expenditure and keep accounts of commitments and authorisations;

(b) ensure that financing decisions are carried out;

(c) in close cooperation with the National Authorising Officer, make commitment decisions and financial arrangements that prove necessary to ensure proper execution of approved operations from the economic and technical viewpoints;

(d) prepare the tender dossier before the invitations to tender are issued, for:

(i) open international tender, and

(ii) restricted international invitation to tender with prequalification.

(e) approve the proposals for the placing of contracts subject to the powers exercised by the Head of Delegation under Article 36;

(f) ensure publication in reasonable time of international invitations to tender.

3. The Chief Authorising Officer shall, at the end of each year, make available a detailed balance sheet of the Fund showing balances of contributions paid into the Fund by the Member States and global disbursements in respect of each financing heading.

Article 35

National Authorising Officer

1. The Government of each ACP States shall appoint a National Authorising Officer to represent it in all operations financed from the resources of the Fund managed by the Commission and the Bank. The National Authorising Officer may delegate some of these functions and shall inform the Chief Authorising Officer of any such delegation. The National Authorising Officer shall:

(a) in close cooperation with the Head of Delegation be responsible for the preparation, submission and appraisal of projects and programmes;

(b) in close cooperation with the Head of Delegation, issue invitations for local open tender, receive tenders, both local and international( open and restricted), preside over the examination of tenders, establish the results of this examination, sign contracts and riders thereto and approve expenditure;

(c) submit, before issuing local open invitations to tender, the invitation to tender dossier to the Head of Delegation who shall give his agreement within 30 days;

(d) complete the evaluation of tenders within the tender validity period taking into consideration the period required for the approval of contracts;

(e) transmit the results of the examination of and a proposal for placing the contract to the Head of Delegation for his approval within the time limits set out in Article 36;

(f) clear and authorise expenditure within the limits of the funds assigned to him; and

(g) during the execution operations, make any adaptation arrangements necessary to ensure the proper execution of approved projects or programmes from the economic and technical viewpoint.

2. The National Authorising Officer shall, during the execution of operations and subject to the requirement to inform the Head of Delegation, decide on:

(a) technical adjustments and alterations in matters of detail so long as they do not affect the technical solution adopted and remain within the limits of the reserve for adjustments;

(b) alterations to estimates during execution;

(c) transfers from item to item within estimates;

(d) changes of site for multiple-unit projects or programmes where justified on technical, economic or social grounds;

(e) imposition or remission of penalties for delay;

(f) acts discharging guarantors;

(g) purchase of goods, irrespective of their origin, on the local market;

(h) use of construction equipment and machinery not originating in the Member States or ACP States provided there is no production of comparable equipment and machinery in the Member States or ACP States;

(i) subcontracting;

(j) final acceptance, provided that the Head of Delegation is present at provisional acceptance, endorses the corresponding minutes and, where appropriate, is present at the final acceptance, in particular where the extent of the reservations recorded at the provisional acceptance necessitates major additional work; and

(k) hiring of consultants and other technical assistance experts.

Article 36

Head of delegation

1. The Commission shall be represented in each ACP State or in each regional grouping, which expressly so requests, by a delegation under the authority of a Head of Delegation, with the approval of the ACP State or States concerned. Where a Head of Delegation is appointed to a group of ACP States, appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure that the Head of Delegation is represented by a deputy resident in each of the States in which the Head of Delegation is not resident. The Head of Delegation shall represent the Commission in all spheres of its competence and in all its activities.

2. To this end, and in close cooperation with the National Authorising Officer, the Head of Delegation shall:

(a) at the request of the ACP State concerned, participate and give assistance in the preparation of projects and programmes and in negotiating technical assistance contracts;

(b) participate in appraising projects and programmes, preparing tender dossiers and seeking ways to simplify project and programme appraisal and implementation procedures;

(c) prepare financing proposals;

(d) approve, before the National Authorising Officer issues them, the local open invitation to tender and the emergency assistance contract dossiers within 30 days of their submission to him by the National Authorising Officer;

(e) be present at the opening of tenders and receive copies of them and of the results of their examination;

(f) approve, within 30 days, the National Authorising Officer's proposal for the placing of local open tenders, direct agreement contracts, emergency assistance contracts, service contracts and works contracts with a value less than EUR 5 million and supply contracts with a value less than EUR 1 million;

(g) for all other contracts not covered by the above, approve within 30 days the National Authorising Officer's proposal for the placing of the contract wherever the following conditions are fulfilled:

(i) the tender selected is the lowest of those conforming to the requirements of the tender dossier;

(ii) the tender selected meets all the selection criteria stated in the tender dossier; and

(iii) the tender selected does not exceed the sum earmarked for the contract.

(h) where the conditions set out in paragraph (g) are not fulfilled, forward the proposal to the Chief Authorising Officer who shall decide thereon within 60 days of the receipt of the Head of Delegation. Where the price of the selected tender exceeds the sum earmarked for the contract, the Chief Authorising Officer shall, upon giving approval to the award, make the necessary financial commitment;

(i) endorse contracts and estimates in the case of direct labour, riders thereto as well as payment authorisations issued by the National Authorising Officer;

(j) ensure that the projects and programmes financed from the resources of the Fund managed by the Commission are properly executed from the financial and technical viewpoints;

(k) cooperate with the national authorities of the ACP State where he represents the Commission in evaluating operations regularly;

(l) communicate to the ACP State all information and relevant documents on the procedures for implementing development finance cooperation especially as regards appraisal criteria and tender evaluation criteria; and

(m) on a regular basis, inform the national authorities of Community activities which may directly concern cooperation between the Community and the ACP States.

3. The Head of Delegation shall have the necessary instructions and delegated powers to facilitate and expedite all operations under the Agreement. Any further delegation of administrative and/or financial powers to the Head of Delegation other than described in this Article shall be notified to the National Authorising Officers and the Council of Ministers.

Article 37

Payments and paying agents

1. For the purpose of effecting payments in the national currencies of the ACP States, accounts denominated in the currencies of the Members States or in Euro shall be opened in each ACP State in the name of the Commission with a national public or semi-public financial institution chosen by agreement between the ACP State and the Commission. This institution shall exercise the functions of National Paying Agent.

2. The National Paying Agent shall receive no remuneration for its services and no interest shall be payable by it on deposited funds. The local accounts shall be replenished by the Commission in the currency of one of the Member States or in Euro, based on estimates of future cash requirements, which shall be made sufficiently in advance to avoid the need for pre-financing by ACP States and to prevent delayed disbursements.

3. For the purpose of effecting payments in Euro, accounts denominated in Euro shall be opened in the name of the Commission with financing institutions in the Member States. These institutions shall exercise the functions of Paying Agents in Europe.

4. Payments from the European accounts, which will be executed on the instruction of the Commission or by the Head of Delegation acting on its behalf, may be made in respect of expenditure authorised by the National Authorising Officer or by the Chief Authorising Officer with the prior authorisation of the National Authorising Officer.

5. Within the limits of the funds available in the accounts, the Paying Agents shall make disbursements authorised by the National Authorising Officer or, as appropriate, the Chief Authorising Officer, after verifying that the supporting documents provided are substantially correct and in order, and that the discharge given for payment is valid.

6. The procedures for clearance, authorisation and payment of expenditure must be completed within a period of 90 days from the date on which the payment becomes due. The National Authorising Officer shall process and deliver the payment authorisation to the Head of Delegation not later than 45 days before the due date.

7. Claims for delayed payments shall be borne by the ACP State or States concerned, and by the Commission from its own resources, for that part of the delay for which each party is responsible in accordance with the above procedures.

8. The Paying Agents, the National Authorising Officer, the Head of Delegation and the responsible Commission departments shall remain financially liable until the Commission gives final clearance for the operations for the execution of which they are responsible.

ANNEX V

TRADE REGIME APPLICABLE DURING THE PREPARATORY PERIOD REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 37 (1)

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS

Article 1

Products originating in the ACP States shall be imported into the Community free of customs duties and charges having equivalent effect.

(a) For products originating in the ACP States:

- listed in Annex I to the Treaty where they come under a common organization of the market within the meaning of Article 34 of the Treaty, or

- subject, on import into the Community, to specific rules introduced as a result of the implementation of the common agricultural policy,

the Community shall take the necessary measures to ensure more favorable treatment than that granted to third countries benefiting from the most-favored-nation clause for the same products.

(b) If, during the application of this Annex, the ACP States request that new lines of agricultural production or agricultural products which are not the subject of specific arrangements when this Annex enters into force should benefit from such arrangements, the Community shall examine these requests in consultation with the ACP States.

(c) Notwithstanding the above, the Community shall, in the context of the special relations and special nature of ACP-EC cooperation, examine on a case-by-case basis the requests from the ACP States for preferential access for their agricultural products to the Community market and shall notify its decision on these reasoned requests if possible within four months, and in any case not more than six months after the date of their submission.

Within the context of subparagraph (a), the Community shall take its decisions in particular with reference to concessions granted to developing third countries. It shall take account of the possibilities offered by the off-season market.

(d) The arrangements referred to in subparagraph (a) shall enter into force at the same time as this Agreement and shall remain applicable for the duration of the preparatory period defined in Article 37(1) of the Agreement.

However, if during this period, the Community:

- subjects one or more products to common organization of the market or to specific rules introduced as a result of the implementation of the common agricultural policy, it shall reserve the right to adapt the import treatment for those products originating in the ACP States, following consultations within the Council of Ministers. In such cases, the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall be applicable;

- modifies the common organization of the market in a particular product or the specific rules introduced as a result of the implementation of the common agricultural policy, it shall reserve the right to modify the arrangements laid down for products originating in the ACP States, following consultations within the Council of Ministers. In such cases the Community shall undertake to ensure that products originating in the ACP States continue to enjoy an advantage comparable to that previously enjoyed in relation to products originating in third countries benefiting from the most-favored-nation clause.

(e) Where the Community intends to conclude a preferential agreement with third States it shall inform the ACP States thereof. Consultations shall take place where the ACP States so request in order to safeguard their interests.

Article 2

1. The Community shall not apply to imports of products originating in the ACP States any quantitative restrictions or measures having equivalent effect.

2. Paragraph 1 shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security, the protection of health and life of humans, animals and plants, the protection of national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value, conservation of exhaustible natural resources if such measures are made effective in conjunction with restrictions on domestic production or consumption, or the protection of industrial and commercial property.

3. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall in no case constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction of trade generally.

In cases where implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 2 affects the interests of one or more ACP States, consultation shall be held at the request of the latter, in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of this Agreement, with a view to reaching a satisfactory solution.

Article 3

1. Where new measures or measures stipulated in programmes adopted by the Community for the approximation of laws and regulations in order to facilitate the movement of goods are likely to affect the interests of one or more ACP States, the Community shall, prior to adopting such measures, inform the ACP States thereof through the Council of Ministers.

2. In order to enable the Community to take into consideration the interests of the ACP State concerned, consultations shall be held at the request of the latter in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of this Agreement, with a view to reaching a satisfactory solution.

Article 4

1. Where existing Community rules or regulations adopted in order to facilitate the movement of goods affect the interests of one or more ACP States or where these interests are affected by the interpretation, application or administration of such rules or regulations, consultations shall be held at the request of the ACP States concerned with a view to reaching a satisfactory solution.

2. With a view to finding a satisfactory solution, the ACP States may also bring up within the Council of Ministers any other problems relating to the movement of goods which might result from measures taken or envisaged by the Member States.

3. The relevant institutions of the Community shall, to the greatest possible extent, inform the Council of Ministers of such measures in order to ensure effective consultations.

Article 5

1. The ACP States shall not be required to assume, in respect of imports of products originating in the Community, obligations corresponding to the commitment entered into by the Community under this Annex in respect of imports of the products originating in the ACP States.

(a) In their trade with the Community, the ACP States shall not discriminate among the Member States and shall grant to the Community treatment no less favorable than most-favoured-nation treatment.

(b) The most-favoured-nation treatment referred to in subparagraph (a) shall not apply in respect of trade or economic relations between ACP States or between one or more ACP States and other developing countries.

Article 6

Each Party shall communicate its customs tariff to the Council of Ministers within three months of the entry into force of this Annex. Each Party shall also communicate any subsequent amendments to its tariff as and when they come into force.

Article 7

1. The concept of "originating products" for the purposes of implementing this Annex, and the methods of administrative cooperation relating thereto, are defined in Protocol annexed hereto.

2. The Council of Ministers may adopt any amendment to Protocol 1.

3. Where the concept of "originating products" has not yet been defined for a given product pursuant to paragraphs 1 or 2, each Contracting Party shall continue to apply its own rules.

Article 8

1. Where any product is being imported into the Community in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to its domestic producers of like or directly competitive products or serious disturbances in any sector of the economy or difficulties which could bring about serious deterioration in the economic situation of a region, the Community may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 9.

2. The Community undertakes not to use other means for protectionism purposes or to hamper structural development. The Community will refrain from using safeguard measures having the same effect.

3. Safeguard measures shall be restricted to those which would least disturb trade between the Contracting Parties in implementing the objectives of this Agreement and must not exceed the scope of what is strictly necessary to remedy the difficulties that have arisen.

4. When applied, safeguard measures shall take into account the existing level of the ACP exports concerned to the Community and their potential for development. Particular attention shall be paid to the interests of the least-developed, landlocked and island ACP States.

Article 9

1. Prior consultation shall take place concerning the application of the safeguard clause, both when such measures are first adopted and when they are extended. The Community shall provide the ACP States with all the information required for such consultations and shall provide the data from which to determine to what extent imports from an ACP State of a specific product have caused the effects referred to in Article 8(1).

2. Where consultations have taken place, safeguard measures, or arrangements jointly agreed upon by the ACP States concerned and the Community, shall enter into force thereafter.

3. However, the prior consultations provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not prevent any immediate decisions which the Community, in accordance with Article 8(1), might take where special factors have necessitated such decisions.

4. In order to facilitate the examination of factors that may cause market disturbances, a mechanism shall be instituted for the statistical surveillance of certain ACP exports to the Community.

5. The Parties undertake to hold regular consultations with a view to finding satisfactory solutions to problems which might result from the application of the safeguard clause.

6. The prior consultations as well as the regular consultations and the surveillance mechanism referred to in paragraphs 1 to 5 shall be implemented in accordance with Protocol 2 annexed hereto.

Article 10

The Council of Ministers shall, at the request of any Party concerned, consider the economic and social effects of the application of the safeguard clause.

Article 11

When safeguard measures are being taken, modified or removed, particular attention shall be paid to the interests of the least-developed, landlocked and island ACP States.

Article 12

In order to ensure the effective implementation of this Annex, the Parties agree to inform and consult each other.

In addition to the cases for which consultations are specifically provided for in Articles 2 to 9 of this Annex, consultations shall also take place, at the request of the Community or the ACP States, and in accordance with the conditions provided for in the procedural rules in Article 12 of this Agreement, particularly in the following cases:

(1) where Parties intend to take any trade measures affecting the interests of one or more Parties under this Annex, they shall inform the Council of Ministers thereof. Consultations shall take place, where the Parties concerned so request, in order to take account of their respective interests;

(2) if, during the application of this Annex, the ACP States consider that agricultural products covered by Artic1e 1(2)(a) other than those subject to special treatment should benefit form such treatment, consultations may take place within the Council of Ministers;

(3) where a Party considers that obstacles to the movement of goods arise as a result of the existing rules of another Party or the interpretation, application or administration thereof;

(4) where the Community takes safeguard measures in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, consultations on these measures may take place within the Council of Ministers, where the Parties concerned so request, notably with a view to ensuring compliance with Article 8(3).

Such consultations must be completed within three months.

CHAPTER 2

SPECIAL UNDERTAKING ON SUGAR AND BEEF AND VEAL

Article 13

1. In accordance with Article 25 of the ACP-EEC Convention of Lomé signed on 28 February 1975 and with Protocol 3 annexed thereto, the Community has undertaken for an indefinite period, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Annex, to purchase and import, at guaranteed prices, specific quantities of cane sugar, raw or white, which originates in the ACP States producing and exporting cane sugar and which those States have undertaken to deliver to it.

2. The conditions for the implementation of the aforementioned Article 25 have been laid down by Protocol 3 referred to in paragraph 1. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Annex as Protocol 3.

3. Article 8 of this Annex shall not apply within the framework of the said Protocol.

4. For the purpose of Article 8 of the said Protocol the institutions established under this Agreement may be used during the period of application of this Agreement.

5. Article 8(2) of the said Protocol shall apply should this Agreement cease to be operative.

6. The declarations contained in Annexes XIII, XXI and XXII of the Final Act to the ACP-EEC Convention of Lomé signed on 28 February 1975 are reaffirmed and their provisions shall continue to apply. These declarations are annexed as such to Protocol 3.

7. This Article and Protocol 3 shall not apply to relations between the ACP States and the French overseas departments.

Article 14

The special undertaking on beef and veal, defined in Protocol 4 annexed hereto shall apply.

CHAPTER 3

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 15

The Protocols attached to this Annex shall form an integral part thereof.

PROTOCOL 1

concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation

INDEX

>TABLE>

TITLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Definitions

For the purposes of this Protocol:

(a) "manufacture" means any kind of working or processing including assembly or specific operations;

(b) "material" means any ingredient, raw material, component or part, etc., used in the manufacture of the product;

(c) "product" means the product being manufactured, even if it is intended for later use in another manufacturing operation;

(d) "goods" means both materials and products;

(e) "customs value" means the value as determined in accordance with the 1994 Agreement on implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (WTO Agreement on customs valuation);

(f) "ex-works price" means the price paid for the product ex works to the manufacturer in whose undertaking the last working or processing is carried out, provided the price includes the value of all the materials used, minus any internal taxes which are, or may be, repaid when the product obtained is exported;

(g) "value of materials" means the customs value at the time of importation of the non-originating materials used, or, if this is not known and cannot be ascertained, the first ascertainable price paid for the materials in the territory concerned;

(h) "value of originating materials" means the value of such materials as defined in subparagraph (g) applied mutatis mutandis;

(i) "added value" shall be taken to be the ex-works price minus the customs value of third-country materials imported into the Community, the ACP States or the Overseas Countries and Territories;

(j) "chapters" and "headings" mean the chapters and the headings (four-digit codes) used in the nomenclature which makes up the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, referred to in this Protocol as "the Harmonized System" or "HS";

(k) "classified" refers to the classification of a product or material under a particular heading;

(l) "consignment" means products which are either sent simultaneously from one exporter to one consignee or covered by a single transport document covering their shipment from the exporter to the consignee or, in the absence of such a document, by a single invoice;

(m) "territories" includes territorial waters.

TITLE II

DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF "ORIGINATING PRODUCTS"

Article 2

General requirements

1. For the purpose of implementing the trade co-operation provisions of ANNEX V, the following products shall be considered as originating in the ACP States:

(a) products wholly obtained in the ACP States within the meaning of Article 3 of this Protocol;

(b) products obtained in the ACP States incorporating materials which have not been wholly obtained there, provided that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing in the ACP States within the meaning of Article 4 of this Protocol.

2. For the purpose of implementing paragraph 1, the territories of the ACP States shall be considered as being one territory.

Originating products made up of materials wholly obtained or sufficiently worked or processed in two or more ACP States shall be considered as products originating in the ACP State where the last working or processing took place, provided the working or processing carried out there goes beyond that referred to in Article 5 of this Protocol.

Article 3

Wholly obtained products

1. The following shall be considered as wholly obtained, in the ACP States or in the Community, or in the overseas countries and territories defined in Annex III, hereafter referred to as the OCT:

(a) mineral products extracted from their soil or from their seabed;

(b) vegetable products harvested there;

(c) live animals born and raised there;

(d) products from live animals raised there;

(e) products obtained by hunting or fishing conducted there;

(f) products of sea fishing and other products taken from the sea outside the territorial waters by their vessels;

(g) products made aboard their factory ships exclusively from products referred to in subparagraph (f);

(h) used articles collected there fit only for the recovery of raw materials, including used tyres fit only for retreading or for use as waste;

(i) waste and scrap resulting from manufacturing operations conducted there;

(j) products extracted from marine soil or subsoil outside their territorial waters provided that they have sole rights to work that soil or subsoil;

(k) goods produced there exclusively from the products specified in subparagraphs (a) to (j).

2. The terms "their vessels" and "their factory ships" in paragraph 1(f) and (g) shall apply only to vessels and factory ships:

(a) which are registered or recorded in an EC Member State, in an ACP State or in an OCT

(b) which sail under the flag of an EC Member State, of an ACP State or of an OCT;

(c) which are owned to an extent of at least 50 per cent by nationals of States party to the Agreement, or of an OCT, or by a company with its head office in one of these States or OCT, of which the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Supervisory Board, and the majority of the members of such boards are nationals of States party to the Agreement, or of an OCT, and of which, in addition, in the case of partnerships or limited companies, at least half the capital belongs to those States party to the Agreement or to public bodies or nationals of the said States, or of an OCT;

(d) of which at least 50 % of the crew, master and officers included, are nationals of States party to the Agreement, or of an OCT.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, the Community shall recognise, upon request of an ACP State, that vessels chartered or leased by the ACP State be treated as "their vessels" to undertake fisheries activities in its exclusive economic zone under the following conditions:

- that the ACP State offered the Community the opportunity to negotiate a fisheries agreement and the Community did not accept this offer;

- that at least 50 % of the crew, master and officers included are nationals of States party to the Agreement, or of an OCT;

- that the charter or lease contract has been accepted by the ACP-EC Customs Cooperation Committee as providing adequate opportunities for developing the capacity of the ACP State to fish on its own account and in particular as conferring on the ACP State the responsibility for the nautical and commercial management of the vessel placed at its disposal for a significant period of time.

Article 4

Sufficiently worked or processed products

1. For the purposes of this Protocol, products which are not wholly obtained are considered to be sufficiently worked or processed in the ACP States, or in the Community or in the OCT, when the conditions set out in the list in Annex II are fulfilled.

The conditions referred to above indicate, for all products covered by this Agreement, the working or processing which must be carried out on non-originating materials used in manufacturing and apply only in relation to such materials. Accordingly, it follows that if a product, which has acquired originating status by fulfilling the conditions set out in the list is used in the manufacture of another product, the conditions applicable to the product in which it is incorporated do not apply to it, and no account shall be taken of the non-originating materials which may have been used in its manufacture.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, non-originating materials which, according to the conditions set out in the list, should not be used in the manufacture of a given product may nevertheless be used, provided that:

(a) their total value does not exceed 15 per cent of the ex-works price of the product;

(b) any of the percentages given in the list for the maximum value of non-originating materials are not exceeded through the application of this paragraph.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply except as provided in Article 5.

Article 5

Insufficient working or processing operations

1. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the following operations shall be considered as insufficient working or processing to confer the status of originating products, whether or not the requirements of Article 4 are satisfied:

(a) operations to ensure the preservation of products in good condition during transport and storage (ventilation, spreading out, drying, chilling, placing in salt, sulphur dioxide or other aqueous solutions, removal of damaged parts, and like operations);

(b) simple operations consisting of removal of dust, sifting or screening, sorting, classifying, matching (including the making-up of sets of articles), washing, painting, cutting up;

c) (i) changes of packaging and breaking up and assembly of packages;

(ii) simple placing in bottles, flasks, bags, cases, boxes, fixing on cards or boards, etc., and all other simple packaging operations;

(d) affixing marks, labels and other like distinguishing signs on products or their packaging;

(e) simple mixing of products, whether or not of different kinds, where one or more components of the mixtures do not meet the conditions laid down in this Protocol to enable them to be considered as originating in an ACP State, in the Community or in the OCT;

(f) simple assembly of parts to constitute a complete product;

(g) a combination of two or more operations specified in subparagraphs (a) to (f);

(h) slaughter of animals.

2. All the operations carried out in either the ACP States, the Community or the OCT on a given product shall be considered together when determining whether the working or processing undergone by that product is to be regarded as insufficient within the meaning of paragraph 1.

Article 6

Cumulation of origin

Cumulation with the OCT and the Community

1. Materials originating in the Community or in the OCT shall be considered as materials originating in the ACP States when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 5.

2. Working and processing carried out in the Community or in the OCT shall be considered as having been carried out in the ACP States, when the materials undergo subsequent working or processing in the ACP States.

Cumulation with South Africa

3. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, materials originating in South Africa shall be considered as originating in the ACP States when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing.

4. Products which have acquired originating status by virtue of paragraph 3 shall only continue to be considered as products originating in the ACP States when the value added there exceeds the value of the materials used originating in South Africa. If this is not so, the products concerned shall be considered as originating in South Africa. In the allocation of origin, no account shall be taken of materials originating in South Africa which have undergone sufficient working or processing in the ACP States.

5. The cumulation provided for in paragraph 3 may only be applied after 3 years for the products listed in Annex XI and 6 years for the products listed in Annex XII respectively, as from the provisional application of the Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa. The cumulation provided for in paragraph 3 shall not be applicable to the products listed in Annex XIII.

6. Notwithstanding paragraph 5, the cumulation provided for in paragraph 3 may be applied at the request of the ACP States for the products listed in Annexes XI and XII. The ACP-EC Committee of Ambassadors shall decide on the ACP requests, product per product, on the basis of a report drawn up by the ACP-EC Customs Co-operation Committee in accordance with Article 37. In the examination of requests, account shall be taken of the risk of the circumvention of the trade provisions of the Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa.

7. The cumulation provided for in paragraph 3 shall only be applicable to the products listed in Annex XIV when the tariffs on these products in the framework of the Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation between the European Community and the Republic of South Africa have been eliminated. The European Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities (C series) the date on which the conditions of this paragraph have been fulfilled.

8. The cumulation provided for in paragraph 3 may only be applied where the South African materials used have acquired the status of originating products by an application of the rules of origin identical to those set out in this Protocol. The ACP States shall provide the Community with details of agreements and their corresponding rules of origin which have been concluded with South Africa. The European Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Communities (C series) the date on which the ACP States have met the obligations laid down in this paragraph.

9. Without prejudice to paragraphs 5 and 7, working and processing carried out in South Africa shall be considered as having been carried out in an other Member State of the South African Customs Union (SACU) when the materials undergo subsequent working or processing in that other Member State of SACU.

10. Without prejudice to paragraphs 5 and 7 and at the request of the ACP States, working and processing carried out in South Africa, shall be considered as having been carried out in the ACP States, when the materials undergo subsequent working or processing in an ACP State within the context of a regional economic integration agreement.

Unless there is a specific request by either party for a referral of the decision to the ACP-EC Council of Ministers, the ACP-EC Customs Cooperation Committee shall decide on the ACP requests in accordance with Article 37.

Cumulation with neighbouring developing countries

11. At the request of the ACP States, materials originating in a neighbouring developing country, other than an ACP State, belonging to a coherent geographical entity, shall be considered as materials originating in the ACP States when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided that:

- the working or processing carried out in the ACP State exceeds the operations listed in Article 5. However, products of Chapter 50 to 63 of the Harmonised System shall in addition undergo in the ACP State at least working or processing as a result of which the product obtained is classified in a heading which is different from those in which the materials originating in the non-ACP developing country used in its manufacture, are classified. For products listed in Annex IX to this Protocol, only the specific processing referred to in column 3 shall apply, whether or not it involves a change of heading,

- the ACP States, the Community and the other countries concerned have concluded an agreement on adequate administrative procedures which will ensure correct implementation of this paragraph.

This paragraph shall not apply to tuna products classified under Harmonised System Chapters 3 or 16, rice products of HS Code 1006 or the textile products listed in Annex X to this Protocol.

For the purpose of determining whether the products originate in the non-ACP developing country, the provisions of this Protocol shall apply.

Unless there is a specific request by either party for a referral of the decision to the ACP-EC Council of Ministers, the ACP-EC Customs Cooperation Committee shall decide on the ACP requests in accordance with Article 37.

Article 7

Unit of qualification

1. The unit of qualification for the application of the provisions of this Protocol shall be the particular product which is considered as the basic unit when determining classification using the nomenclature of the Harmonized System.

Accordingly, it follows that:

- when a product composed of a group or assembly of articles is classified under the terms of the Harmonized System in a single heading, the whole constitutes the unit of qualification;

- when a consignment consists of a number of identical products classified under the same heading of the Harmonized System, each product must be taken individually when applying the provisions of this Protocol.

2. Where, under General Rule 5 of the Harmonized System, packaging is included with the product for classification purposes, it shall be included for the purposes of determining origin.

Article 8

Accessories, spare parts and tools

Accessories, spare parts and tools dispatched with a piece of equipment, machine, apparatus or vehicle, which are part of the normal equipment and included in the price thereof or which are not separately invoiced, shall be regarded as one with the piece of equipment, machine, apparatus or vehicle in question.

Article 9

Sets

Sets, as defined in General Rule 3 of the Harmonized System, shall be regarded as originating when all component products are originating. Nevertheless, when a set is composed of originating and non-originating products, the set as a whole shall be regarded as originating, provided that the value of the non-originating products does not exceed 15 per cent of the ex-works price of the set.

Article 10

Neutral elements

In order to determine whether a product originates, it shall not be necessary to determine the origin of the following which might be used in its manufacture:

(a) energy and fuel;

(b) plant and equipment;

(c) machines and tools;

(d) goods which do not enter and which are not intended to enter into the final composition of the product.

TITLE III

TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENTS

Article 11

Principle of territoriality

1. The conditions set out in Title II relative to the acquisition of originating status must be fulfilled without interruption in the ACP States, except as provided for in Article 6.

2. If originating goods exported from the ACP States, the Community or the OCT to another country are returned, except insofar as provided for in Article 6, they must be considered as non-originating, unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

(a) the goods returned are the same goods as those exported; and

(b) they have not undergone any operation beyond that necessary to preserve them in good condition while in that country or while being exported.

Article 12

Direct transport

1. The preferential treatment provided for under the trade co-operation provisions of Annex V applies only to products, satisfying the requirements of this Protocol, which are transported directly between the territory of the ACP States, of the Community, of the OCT or of South Africa for the purposes of Article 6 without entering any other territory. However, products constituting one single consignment may be transported through other territories with, should the occasion arise, transshipment or temporary warehousing in such territories, provided that they remain under the surveillance of the customs authorities in the country of transit or warehousing and do not undergo operations other than unloading, reloading or any operation designed to preserve them in good condition.

Originating products may be transported by pipeline across territory other than that of an ACP State, of the Community or of an OCT.

2. Evidence that the conditions set out in paragraph 1 have been fulfilled shall be supplied to the customs authorities of the importing country by the production of:

(a) a single transport document covering the passage from the exporting country through the country of transit; or

(b) a certificate issued by the customs authorities of the country of transit:

(i) giving an exact description of the products;

(ii) stating the dates of unloading and reloading of the products and, where applicable, the names of the ships, or the other means of transport used; and

(iii) certifying the conditions under which the products remained in the transit country; or

(c) failing these, any substantiating documents.

Article 13

Exhibitions

1. Originating products, sent from an ACP State for exhibition in a country other than those referred to in Article 6 and sold after the exhibition for importation into the Community shall benefit on importation from the provisions of Annex V provided it is shown to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

(a) an exporter has consigned these products from an ACP State to the country in which the exhibition is held and has exhibited them there;

(b) the products have been sold or otherwise disposed of by that exporter to a person in the Community;

(c) the products have been consigned during the exhibition or immediately thereafter in the state in which they were sent for exhibition; and

(d) the products have not, since they were consigned for exhibition, been used for any purpose other than demonstration at the exhibition.

2. A proof of origin must be issued or made out in accordance with the provisions of Title IV and submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country in the normal manner. The name and address of the exhibition must be indicated thereon. Where necessary, additional documentary evidence of the conditions under which they have been exhibited may be required.

3. Paragraph 1 shall apply to any trade, industrial, agricultural or crafts exhibition, fair or similar public show or display which is not organized for private purposes in shops or business premises with a view to the sale of foreign products, and during which the products remain under customs control.

TITLE IV

PROOF OF ORIGIN

Article 14

General requirements

1. Products originating in the ACP States shall, on importation into the Community benefit from Annex V upon submission of either:

(a) a movement certificate EUR.1, a specimen of which appears in Annex IV; or

(b) in the cases specified in Article 19(1), a declaration, the text of which appears in Annex V to this Protocol, given by the exporter on an invoice, a delivery note or any other commercial document which describes the products concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified (hereinafter referred to as the "invoice declaration").

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, originating products within the meaning of this Protocol shall, in the cases specified in Article 25, benefit from Annex V without it being necessary to submit any of the documents referred to above.

Article 15

Procedure for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1

1. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs authorities of the exporting country on application having been made in writing by the exporter or, under the exporter's responsibility, by his authorized representative.

2. For this purpose, the exporter or his authorized representative shall fill out both the movement certificate EUR.1 and the application form, specimens of which appear in Annex IV. These forms shall be completed in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol. If they are handwritten, they shall be completed in ink in printed characters. The description of the products must be given in the box reserved for this purpose without leaving any blank lines. Where the box is not completely filled, a horizontal line must be drawn below the last line of the description, the empty space being crossed through.

3. The exporter applying for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1 shall be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the customs authorities of the exporting ACP State where the movement certificate EUR.1 is issued, all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products concerned as well as the fulfillment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

4. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs authorities of the exporting ACP State if the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the ACP States or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 6 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol.

5. The issuing customs authorities shall take any steps necessary to verify the originating status of the products and the fulfillment of the other requirements of this Protocol. For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts or any other check considered appropriate. The issuing customs authorities shall also ensure that the forms referred to in paragraph 2 are duly completed. In particular, they shall check whether the space reserved for the description of the products has been completed in such a manner as to exclude all possibility of fraudulent additions.

6. The date of issue of the movement certificate EUR.1 shall be indicated in Box 11 of the certificate.

7. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs authorities and made available to the exporter as soon as actual exportation has been effected or ensured.

Article 16

Movement certificates EUR.1 issued retrospectively

1. Notwithstanding Article 15(7), a movement certificate EUR.1 may exceptionally be issued after exportation of the products to which it relates if:

(a) it was not issued at the time of exportation because of errors or involuntary omissions or special circumstances; or

(b) it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that a movement certificate EUR.1 was issued but was not accepted at importation for technical reasons.

2. For the implementation of paragraph 1, the exporter must indicate in his application the place and date of exportation of the products to which the movement certificate EUR.1 relates, and state the reasons for his request.

3. The customs authorities may issue a movement certificate EUR.1 retrospectively only after verifying that the information supplied in the exporter's application agrees with that in the corresponding file.

4. Movement certificates EUR.1 issued retrospectively must be endorsed with one of the following phrases:

"NACHTRÄGLICH AUSGESTELLT", "DELIVRÉ A POSTERIORI", "RILASCIATO A POSTERIORI", "AFGEGEVEN A POSTERIORI", "ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY", "UDSTEDT EFTERFØLGENDE", "ΕΚΔΟΘΕΝ ΕΚ ΤΩΝ ΥΣΤΕΡΩΝ", "EXPEDIDO A POSTERIORI", "EMITIDO A POSTERIORI", "ANNETTU JÄLKIKÄTEEN", "UTFÄRDAT I EFTERHAND".

5. The endorsement referred to in paragraph 4 shall be inserted in the "Remarks" box of the movement certificate EUR.1.

Article 17

Issue of a duplicate movement certificate EUR.1

1. In the event of theft, loss or destruction of a movement certificate EUR.1, the exporter may apply to the customs authorities which issued it for a duplicate made out on the basis of the export documents in their possession.

2. The duplicate issued in this way must be endorsed with one of the following words:

"DUPLIKAT", "DUPLICATA", "DUPLICATO", "DUPLICAAT", "DUPLICATE", "ΑΝΤΙΓΡΑΦΟ", "DUPLICADO", "SEGUNDA VIA", "KAKSOISKAPPALE".

3. The endorsement referred to in paragraph 2 shall be inserted in the "Remarks" box of the duplicate movement certificate EUR.1.

4. The duplicate, which must bear the date of issue of the original movement certificate EUR.1, shall take effect as from that date.

Article 18

Issue of movement certificates EUR.1 on the basis of a proof of origin issued or made out previously

When originating products are placed under the control of a customs office in an ACP State or in the Community , it shall be possible to replace the original proof of origin by one or more movement certificates EUR.1 for the purpose of sending all or some of these products elsewhere within the ACP States or within the Community. The replacement movement certificate(s) EUR.1 shall be issued by the customs office under whose control the products are placed.

Article 19

Conditions for making out an invoice declaration

1. An invoice declaration as referred to in Article 14(1)(b) may be made out:

(a) by an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 20, or

(b) by any exporter for any consignment consisting of one or more packages containing originating products whose total value does not exceed EUR 6000.

2. An invoice declaration may be made out if the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the ACP States or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 6 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol.

3. The exporter making out an invoice declaration shall be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the customs authorities of the exporting country, all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products concerned as well as the fulfillment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

4. An invoice declaration shall be made out by the exporter by typing, stamping or printing on the invoice, the delivery note or another commercial document, the declaration, the text of which appears in Annex V to this Protocol, using one of the linguistic versions set out in that Annex and in accordance with the provisions of the domestic law of the exporting country. If the declaration is handwritten, it shall be written in ink in printed characters.

5. Invoice declarations shall bear the original signature of the exporter in manuscript. However, an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 20 shall not be required to sign such declarations provided that he gives the customs authorities of the exporting country a written undertaking that he accepts full responsibility for any invoice declaration which identifies him as if it had been signed in manuscript by him.

6. An invoice declaration may be made out by the exporter when the products to which it relates are exported, or after exportation on condition that it is presented in the importing country no longer than two years after the importation of the products to which it relates.

Article 20

Approved exporter

1. The customs authorities of the exporting country may authorize any exporter who makes frequent shipments of products under the trade co-operation provisions of ANNEX V to make out invoice declarations irrespective of the value of the products concerned. An exporter seeking such authorization must offer to the satisfaction of the customs authorities all guarantees necessary to verify the originating status of the products as well as the fulfillment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

2. The customs authorities may grant the status of approved exporter subject to any conditions which they consider appropriate.

3. The customs authorities shall grant to the approved exporter a customs authorization number which shall appear on the invoice declaration.

4. The customs authorities shall monitor the use of the authorization by the approved exporter.

5. The customs authorities may withdraw the authorization at any time. They shall do so where the approved exporter no longer offers the guarantees referred to in paragraph 1, does not fulfil the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 or otherwise makes an incorrect use of the authorization.

Article 21

Validity of proof of origin

1. A proof of origin shall be valid for ten months from the date of issue in the exporting country, and must be submitted within the said period to the customs authorities of the importing country.

2. Proofs of origin which are submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country after the final date for presentation specified in paragraph 1 may be accepted for the purpose of applying preferential treatment, where the failure to submit these documents by the final date set is due to exceptional circumstances.

3. In other cases of belated presentation, the customs authorities of the importing country may accept the proofs of origin where the products have been submitted before the said final date.

Article 22

Transit procedure

When the products enter an ACP State or OCT other than the country of origin, a further period of validity of 4 months shall begin on the date on which the customs authorities in the country of transit enter the following in box 7 of the certificate EUR.1:

- the word "transit",

- the name of the country of transit,

- the official stamp, a specimen of which had been made available to the Commission, in conformity with Article 31,

- date of the endorsements.

Article 23

Submission of proof of origin

Proofs of origin shall be submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country in accordance with the procedures applicable in that country. The said authorities may require a translation of a proof of origin and may also require the import declaration to be accompanied by a statement from the importer to the effect that the products meet the conditions required for the implementation of Annex V.

Article 24

Importation by installments

Where, at the request of the importer and on the conditions laid down by the customs authorities of the importing country, dismantled or non-assembled products within the meaning of General Rule 2(a) of the Harmonized System falling within Sections XVI and XVII or heading Nos 7308 and 9406 of the Harmonized System are imported by installments, a single proof of origin for such products shall be submitted to the customs authorities upon importation of the first installment.

Article 25

Exemptions from proof of origin

1. Products sent as small packages from private persons to private persons or forming part of travellers' personal luggage shall be admitted as originating products without requiring the submission of a proof of origin, provided that such products are not imported by way of trade and have been declared as meeting the requirements of this Protocol and where there is no doubt as to the veracity of such a declaration. In the case of products sent by post, this declaration can be made on the customs declaration CN22/CN23 or on a sheet of paper annexed to that document.

2. Imports which are occasional and consist solely of products for the personal use of the recipients or travellers or their families shall not be considered as imports by way of trade if it is evident from the nature and quantity of the products that no commercial purpose is in view.

3. Furthermore, the total value of these products shall not exceed EUR 500 in the case of small packages or EUR 1200 in the case of products forming part of travellers' personal luggage.

Article 26

Information procedure for cumulation purposes

1. When Articles 2(2) and 6(1) are applied, the evidence of originating status within the meaning of this protocol of the materials coming from the other ACP States, the Community or the OCT shall be given by a movement certificate EUR 1 or by the supplier's declaration, a specimen of which appears in Annex VI A to this Protocol, given by the exporter in the State or OCT from which the materials came.

2. When Articles 2(2), 6(2) and 6(9) are applied, the evidence of the working or processing carried out in the other ACP States, the Community, the OCT or South Africa shall be given by the supplier's declaration a specimen of which appears in Annex VI B to this Protocol, given by the exporter in the State or OCT from which the materials came.

3. A separate supplier's declaration shall be given by the supplier for each consignment of material on the commercial invoice related to that shipment or in an annex to that invoice, or on a delivery note or other commercial document related to that shipment which describes the materials concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified.

4. The supplier's declaration may be made out on a pre-printed form.

5. The suppliers' declarations shall be signed in manuscript. However, where the invoice and the supplier's declaration are established using electronic data-processing methods, the supplier's declaration need not be signed in manuscript provided the responsible official in the supplying company is identified to the satisfaction of the customs authorities in the State where the suppliers' declarations are established. The said customs authorities may lay down conditions for the implementation of this paragraph.

6. The supplier's declarations are submitted to the competent customs office in the exporting ACP State requested to issue the movement certificate EUR 1.

7. Suppliers' declarations made and information certificates issued before the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Article 23 of Protocol 1 to the Fourth ACP-EC Convention shall remain valid.

Article 27

Supporting documents

The documents referred to in Articles 15(3) and 19(3) used for the purpose of proving that products covered by a movement certificate EUR.1 or an invoice declaration can be considered as products originating in an ACP State or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 6 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol may consist inter alia of the following:

(a) direct evidence of the processes carried out by the exporter or supplier to obtain the goods concerned, contained for example in his accounts or internal bookkeeping;

(b) documents proving the originating status of materials used, issued or made out in an ACP State or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 6 where these documents are used in accordance with domestic law;

(c) documents proving the working or processing of materials in the ACP States, in the Community or in the OCT, issued or made out in an ACP State, in the Community or in an OCT, where these documents are used in accordance with domestic law;

(d) movement certificates EUR.1 or invoice declarations proving the originating status of materials used, issued or made out in the ACP States or in one of the other countries referred to in Article 6 and in accordance with this Protocol.

Article 28

Preservation of proof of origin and supporting documents

1. The exporter applying for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1 shall keep for at least three years the documents referred to in Article 15(3).

2. The exporter making out an invoice declaration shall keep for at least three years a copy of this invoice declaration as well as the documents referred to in Article 19(3).

3. The customs authorities of the exporting country issuing a movement certificate EUR.1 shall keep for at least three years the application form referred to in Article 15(2).

4. The customs authorities of the importing country shall keep for at least three years the movement certificates EUR.1 and the invoice declarations submitted to them.

Article 29

Discrepancies and formal errors

1. The discovery of slight discrepancies between the statements made in the proof of origin and those made in the documents submitted to the customs office for the purpose of carrying out the formalities for importing the products shall not ipso facto render the proof of origin null and void if it is duly established that this document does correspond to the products submitted.

2. Obvious formal errors such as typing errors on a proof of origin should not cause this document to be rejected if these errors are not such as to create doubts concerning the correctness of the statements made in this document.

Article 30

Amounts expressed in euro

1. The amounts to be used in any given national currency of a Member State shall be the equivalent in that national currency of the amounts expressed in euro as at the first working day in October 1999.

2. The amounts expressed in euro and their equivalents in the national currencies of some EC Member States may be reviewed by the Community if necessary and shall be notified by the Community to the Customs Cooperation Committee not later than one month before they shall come into force. When carrying out this review, the Community shall ensure that there will be no decrease in the amounts to be used in any national currency and shall furthermore consider the desirability of preserving the effects of the limits concerned in real terms. For this purpose, it may decide to modify the amounts expressed in euro.

3. When the products are invoiced in the currency of another EC Member State, the importing country shall recognize the amount notified by the Member State concerned.

TITLE V

ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION

Article 31

Mutual assistance

1. The ACP States shall send to the Commission specimens of the stamps used together with the addresses of the customs authorities competent to issue movement certificates EUR.1 and carry out the subsequent verification of movement certificates EUR.1 and invoice declarations.

Movement certificates EUR.1 and invoice declarations shall be accepted for the purpose of applying preferential treatment from the date the information is received by the Commission.

The Commission shall send this information to the customs authorities of the Member States.

2. In order to ensure the proper application of this Protocol, the Community, the OCT, the ACP States shall assist each other, through the competent customs administrations, in checking the authenticity of the movement certificates EUR.1, the invoice declarations or supplier's declarations and the correctness of the information given in these documents.

The authorities consulted shall furnish the relevant information concerning the conditions under which the product has been made, indicating especially the conditions in which the rules of origin have been respected in the various ACP States, Member States, OCT concerned.

Article 32

Verification of proofs of origin

1. Subsequent verifications of proofs of origin shall be carried out at random or whenever the customs authorities of the importing country have reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of such documents, the originating status of the products concerned or the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Protocol.

2. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of paragraph 1, the customs authorities of the importing country shall return the movement certificate EUR.1 and the invoice, if it has been submitted, the invoice declaration, or a copy of these documents, to the customs authorities of the exporting country giving, where appropriate, the reasons for the enquiry. Any documents and information obtained suggesting that the information given on the proof or origin is incorrect shall be forwarded in support of the request for verification.

3. The verification shall be carried out by the customs authorities of the exporting country. For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts or any other check considered appropriate.

4. If the customs authorities of the importing country decide to suspend the granting of preferential treatment to the products concerned while awaiting the results of the verification, release of the products shall be offered to the importer subject to any precautionary measures judged necessary.

5. The customs authorities requesting the verification shall be informed of the results of this verification as soon as possible. These results must indicate clearly whether the documents are authentic and whether the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the ACP States or in one of the countries referred to in Article 6 and fulfil the other requirements of this Protocol.

6. If in cases of reasonable doubt there is no reply within ten months of the date of the verification request or if the reply does not contain sufficient information to determine the authenticity of the document in question or the real origin of the products, the requesting customs authorities shall, except in exceptional circumstances, refuse entitlement to the preferences.

7. Where the verification procedure or any other available information appears to indicate that the provisions of this Protocol are being contravened, the ACP State on its own initiative or at the request of the Community shall carry out appropriate enquires or arrange for such enquiries to be carried out with due urgency to identify and prevent such contraventions and for this purpose the ACP State concerned may invite the participation of the Community in these enquiries.

Article 33

Verification of suppliers' declarations

1. Verification of suppliers' declaration may be carried out at random or whenever the customs authorities of the importing State have reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of the document or the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the true origin of the materials in question.

2. The customs authorities to which a supplier's declaration is submitted may request the customs authorities of the State where the declaration was made to issue an information certificate, a specimen of which appears in Annex VII to this Protocol. Alternatively, the customs authorities to which a supplier's declaration is submitted may request the exporter to produce an information certificate issued by the customs authorities of the State where the declaration was made.

A copy of the information certificate shall be preserved by the office which has issued it for at least three years.

3. The requesting customs authorities shall be informed of the results of the verification as soon as possible. The results must be such as to indicate positively whether the declaration concerning the status of the materials is correct.

4. For the purpose of verification, suppliers shall keep for not less than three years a copy of the document containing the declaration together with all necessary evidence showing the true status of the materials.

5. The customs authorities in the State where the supplier's declaration is established shall have the right to call for any evidence or to carry out any check which they consider appropriate in order to verify the correctness of any supplier's declaration.

6. Any movement certificate EUR.1 or invoice declaration issued or made out on the basis of an incorrect supplier's declaration shall be considered null and void.

Article 34

Dispute settlement

Where disputes arise in relation to the verification procedures of Articles 32 and 33 which cannot be settled between the customs authorities requesting a verification and the customs authorities responsible for carrying out this verification or where they raise a question as to the interpretation of this Protocol, they shall be submitted to the Customs Cooperation Committee.

In all cases the settlement of disputes between the importer and the customs authorities of the importing country shall be under the legislation of the said country.

Article 35

Penalties

Penalties shall be imposed on any person who draws up, or causes to be drawn up, a document which contains incorrect information for the purpose of obtaining a preferential treatment for products.

Article 36

Free zones

1. The ACP States shall take all necessary steps to ensure that products traded under cover of a proof of origin or a supplier's declaration and which in the course of transport use a free zone situated in their territory, are not substituted by other goods and do not undergo handling other than normal operations designed to prevent their deterioration.

2. By means of an exemption to the provisions contained in paragraph 1, when originating products are imported into a free zone under cover of a proof of origin and undergo treatment or processing, the authorities concerned shall issue a new EUR.1 certificate at the exporter's request, if the treatment or processing undergone is in conformity with the provisions of this Protocol.

Article 37

Customs Cooperation Committee

1. A Customs Cooperation Committee, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", shall be set up and charged with carrying out administrative cooperation with a view to the correct and uniform application of this Protocol and with carrying out any other task in the customs field which may be entrusted to it.

2. The Committee shall examine regularly the effect on the ACP States and in particular on the least developed ACP States of application of the rules of origin and shall recommend to the Council of Ministers appropriate measures.

3. The Committee shall take decisions on cumulation under the conditions laid down in Article 6.

4. The Committee shall take decisions on derogations from this Protocol, under the conditions laid down in Article 38.

5. The Committee shall meet regularly, in particular to prepare the decisions of the Council of Ministers pursuant to Article 40.

6. The Committee shall be composed on the one hand of experts from the Member States and of Commission officials responsible for customs questions, and on the other hand of experts representing the ACP States and of officials of regional groupings of the ACP States who are responsible for customs questions. The Committee may call upon appropriate expertise where necessary.

Article 38

Derogations

1. Derogations from this Protocol may be adopted by the Committee where the development of existing industries or the creation of new industries justifies them.

The ACP State or States concerned shall, either before or when the ACP States submit the matter to the Committee, notify the Community of its request for a derogation together with the reasons for the request in accordance with paragraph 2.

The Community shall respond positively to all the ACP requests which are duly justified in conformity with this Article and which cannot cause serious injury to an established Community industry.

2. In order to facilitate the examination by the Committee of requests for derogation, the ACP State making the request shall, by means of the form given in Annex VIII to this Protocol, furnish in support of its request the fullest possible information covering in particular the points listed below:

- description of the finished product,

- nature and quantity of materials originating in a third country,

- nature and quantity of materials originating in ACP States, the Community or the OCT, or which have been processed there,

- manufacturing processes,

- value added,

- number of employees in the enterprise concerned,

- anticipated volume of exports to the Community,

- other possible sources of supply for raw materials

- reasons for the duration requested in the light of efforts made to find new sources of supply,

- other observations.

The same rules shall apply to any requests for extension.

The Committee may modify the form.

3. The examination of requests shall in particular take into account:

(a) the level of development or the geographical situation of the ACP State or States concerned;

(b) cases where the application of the existing rules of origin would significantly affect the ability of an existing industry in an ACP State to continue its exports to the Community, with particular reference to cases where this could lead to cessation of its activities;

(c) specific cases where it can be clearly demonstrated that significant investment in an industry could be deterred by the rules of origin and where a derogation favouring the realisation of the investment programme would enable these rules to be satisfied by stages.

4. In every case an examination shall be made to ascertain whether the rules relating to cumulation of origin do not provide a solution to the problem.

5. In addition when a request for derogation concerns a least-developed or an island ACP State, its examination shall be carried out with a favourable bias having particular regard to:

(a) the economic and social impact of the decision to be taken especially in respect of employment;

(b) the need to apply the derogation for a period taking into account the particular situation of the ACP State concerned and its difficulties.

6. In the examination of requests, special account shall be taken, case by case, of the possibility of conferring originating status on products which include in their composition materials originating in neighbouring developing countries, least-developed countries or developing countries with which one or more ACP States have special relations, provided that satisfactory administrative co-operation can be established.

7. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 to 6, the derogation shall be granted where the value added to the non-originating products used in the ACP State or States concerned is at least 45 % of the value of the finished product, provided that the derogation is not such as to cause serious injury to an economic sector of the Community or of one or more Member States.

8. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 to 7, derogations concerning canned tuna and tuna loins shall only be granted within an annual quota of 8000 tonnes for canned tuna and within an annual quota of 2000 tonnes for tuna loins.

Applications for such derogations shall be submitted by the ACP States in accordance with the abovementioned quota to the Committee, which shall grant them automatically and put them into force by means of a decision.

9. The Committee shall take steps necessary to ensure that a decision is reached as quickly as possible and in any case not later than seventy-five working days after the request is received by the EC Co-chairman of the Committee. If the Community does not inform the ACP States of its position on the request within this period, the request shall be deemed to have been accepted. In the event of a decision not being taken by the Committee, the Committee of Ambassadors shall be called upon to decide within one month of the date on which the matter is referred to it.

10. (a) The derogation shall be valid for a period, generally of five years, to be determined by the Committee.

(b) The derogation decision may provide for renewals without a new decision of the Committee being necessary, provided that the ACP State or States concerned submit, three months before the end of each period, proof that they are still unable to meet the conditions of this Protocol which have been derogated from.

If any objection is made to the extension, the Committee shall examine it as soon as possible and decide whether to prolong the derogation. The Committee shall proceed as provided for in paragraph 9. All necessary measures shall be taken to avoid interruptions in the application of the derogation.

(c) In the periods referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b), the Committee may review the terms for implementing the derogation should a significant change be found to have taken place in the substantive factors governing the decision to grant the derogation. On conclusion of its review the Committee may decide to amend the terms of its decision as regards the scope of derogation or any other condition previously laid down.

TITLE VI

CEUTA AND MELILLA

Article 39

Special conditions

1. The term "Community" used in this Protocol shall not cover Ceuta and Melilla. The term "products originating in the Community" shall not cover products originating in Ceuta and Melilla.

2. The provisions of this Protocol shall apply mutatis mutandis in determining whether products may be deemed as originating in the ACP States when imported into Ceuta and Melilla.

3. Where products wholly obtained in Ceuta, Melilla, the OCT or the Community undergo working and processing in the ACP States, they shall be considered as having been wholly obtained in the ACP States.

4. Working or processing carried out in Ceuta, Melilla, the OCT or the Community shall be considered as having been carried out in the ACP States, when materials undergo further working or processing in the ACP States.

5. For the purpose of implementing paragraphs 3 and 4, the insufficient operations listed in Article 5 shall not be considered as working or processing.

6. Ceuta and Melilla shall be considered as a single territory.

TITLE VII

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 40

Revision of rules of origin

In accordance with Article 7 of Annex V, the Council of Ministers shall examine annually, or whenever the ACP States or the Community so request, the application of the provisions of this Protocol and their economic effects with a view to making any necessary amendments or adaptations.

The Council of Ministers shall take into account among other elements the effects on the rules of origin of technological developments.

The decisions taken shall be implemented as soon as possible.

Article 41

Annexes

The Annexes to this Protocol shall form an integral part thereof.

Article 42

Implementation of the Protocol

The Community and the ACP States shall each take the steps necessary to implement this Protocol.

Annex I to Protocol 1

INTRODUCTORY NOTES TO THE LIST IN ANNEX II

Note 1:

The list sets out the conditions required for all products to be considered as sufficiently worked or processed within the meaning of Article 4 of the Protocol.

Note 2:

1. first two columns in the list describe the product obtained. The first column gives the heading number or chapter number used in the Harmonized System and the second column gives the description of goods used in that system for that heading or chapter. For each entry in the first two columns a rule is specified in columns 3 or 4. Where, in some cases, the entry in the first column is preceded by an "ex", this signifies that the rules in columns 3 or 4 apply only to the part of that heading as described in column 2.

2. Where several heading numbers are grouped together in column 1 or a chapter number is given and the description of products in column 2 is therefore given in general terms, the adjacent rules in columns 3 or 4 apply to all products which, under the Harmonized System, are classified in headings of the chapter or in any of the headings grouped together in column 1.

3. Where there are different rules in the list applying to different products within a heading, each indent contains the description of that part of the heading covered by the adjacent rules in columns 3 or 4.

4. Where, for an entry in the first two columns, a rule is specified in both columns 3 and 4, the exporter may opt, as an alternative, to apply either the rule set out in column 3 or that set out in column 4. If no origin rule is given in column 4, the rule set out in column 3 has to be applied.

Note 3:

1. The provisions of Article 4 of the Protocol concerning products having acquired originating status which are used in the manufacture of other products apply regardless of whether this status has been acquired inside the factory where these products are used or in another factory in the Community or in the ACP States.

Example:

An engine of heading No 8407, for which the rule states that the value of the non-originating materials which may be incorporated may not exceed 40 per cent of the ex-works price, is made from "other alloy steel roughly shaped by forging" of heading No ex 7224.

If this forging has been forged in the Community from a non-originating ingot, it has already acquired originating status by virtue of the rule for heading No ex 7224 in the list. The forging can then count as originating in the value calculation for the engine regardless of whether it was produced in the same factory or in another factory in the Community. The value of the non-originating ingot is thus not taken into account when adding up the value of the non-originating materials used.

2. The rule in the list represents the minimum amount of working or processing required and the carrying out of more working or processing also confers originating status; conversely, the carrying out of less working or processing cannot confer originating status. Thus if a rule provides that non-originating material at a certain level of manufacture may be used, the use of such material at an earlier stage of manufacture is allowed and the use of such material at a later stage is not.

3. Without prejudice to Note 3.2 where a rule states that "materials of any heading" may be used, materials of the same heading as the product may also be used, subject, however, to any specific limitations which may also be contained in the rule. However, the expression "manufacture from materials of any heading, including other materials of heading No ..." means that only materials classified in the same heading as the product of a different description than that of the product as given in column 2 of the list may be used.

4. When a rule in the list specifies that a product may be manufactured from more than one material, this means that any one or more materials may be used. It does not require that all be used.

Example:

The rule for fabrics of heading Nos 5208 to 5212 provides that natural fibres may be used and that chemical materials, among other materials, may also be used. This does not mean that both have to be used; it is possible to use one or the other or both.

5. Where a rule in the list specifies that a product must be manufactured from a particular material, the condition obviously does not prevent the use of other materials which, because of their inherent nature, cannot satisfy the rule. (See also Note 6.3 below in relation to textiles).

Example:

The rule for prepared foods of heading No 1904 which specifically excludes the use of cereals and their derivatives does not prevent the use of mineral salts, chemicals and other additives which are not products from cereals.

However, this does not apply to products which, although they cannot be manufactured from the particular materials specified in the list, can be produced from a material of the same nature at an earlier stage of manufacture.

Example:

In the case of an article of apparel of ex Chapter 62 made from non-woven materials, if the use of only non-originating yarn is allowed for this class of article, it is not possible to start from non-woven cloth - even if non-woven cloths cannot normally be made from yarn. In such cases, the starting material would normally be at the stage before yarn - that is the fibre stage.

6. Where, in a rule in the list, two percentages are given for the maximum value of non-originating materials that can be used, then these percentages may not be added together. In other words, the maximum value of all the non-originating materials used may never exceed the highest of the percentages given. Furthermore, the individual percentages must not be exceeded in relation to the particular materials they apply to.

Note 4:

1. The term "natural fibres" is used in the list to refer to fibres other than artificial or synthetic fibres. It is restricted to the stages before spinning takes place, including waste, and, unless otherwise specified, includes fibres that have been carded, combed or otherwise processed but not spun.

2. The term "natural fibres" includes horsehair of heading No 0503, silk of heading Nos 5002 and 5003 as well as the wool fibres, fine or coarse animal hair of heading Nos 5101 to 5105, the cotton fibres of heading Nos 5201 to 5203 and the other vegetable fibres of heading Nos 5301 to 5305.

3. The terms "textile pulp", "chemical materials" and "paper-making materials" are used in the list to describe the materials not classified in Chapters 50 to 63, which can be used to manufacture artificial, synthetic or paper fibres or yarns.

4. The term "man-made staple fibres" is used in the list to refer to synthetic or artificial filament tow, staple fibres or waste, of heading Nos 5501 to 5507.

Note 5:

1. Where for a given product in the list a reference is made to this note, the conditions set out in column 3 shall not be applied to any basic textile materials, used in the manufacture of this product, which, taken together, represent 10 per cent or less of the total weight of all the basic textile materials used. (See also Notes 5.3 and 5.4 below).

2. However, the tolerance mentioned in Note 5.1 may only be applied to mixed products which have been made from two or more basic textile materials.

The following are the basic textile materials:

- silk,

- wool,

- coarse animal hair,

- fine animal hair,

- horsehair,

- cotton,

- paper-making materials and paper,

- flax,

- true hemp,

- jute and other textile bast fibres,

- sisal and other textile fibres of the genus Agave,

- coconut, abaca, ramie and other vegetable textile fibres,

- synthetic man-made filaments,

- artificial man-made filaments,

- current conducting filaments,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polypropylene,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polyester,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polyamide,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polyacrylonitrile,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polyimide,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polytetrafluoroethylene,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polyphenylene sulphide,

- synthetic man-made staple fibres of polyvinyl chloride,

- other synthetic man-made staple fibres,

- artificial man-made staple fibres of viscose,

- other artificial man-made staple fibres,

- yarn made of polyurethane segmented with flexible segments of polyether whether or not gimped,

- yarn made of polyurethane segmented with flexible segments of polyester whether or not gimped,

- products of heading No 5605 (metallized yarn) incorporating strip consisting of a core of aluminium foil or of a core of plastic film whether or not coated with aluminium powder, of a width not exceeding 5 mm, sandwiched by means of a transparent or coloured adhesive between two layers of plastic film,

- other products of heading No 5605.

Example:

A yarn of heading No 5205 made from cotton fibres of heading No 5203 and synthetic staple fibres of heading No 5506 is a mixed yarn. Therefore, non-originating synthetic staple fibres that do not satisfy the origin rules (which require manufacture from chemical materials or textile pulp) may be used up to a weight of 10 per cent of the yarn.

Example:

A woollen fabric of heading No 5112 made from woollen yarn of heading No 5107 and synthetic yarn of staple fibres of heading No 5509 is a mixed fabric. Therefore synthetic yarn which does not satisfy the origin rules (which require manufacture from chemical materials or textile pulp) or woollen yarn that does not satisfy the origin rules (which require manufacture from natural fibres, not carded or combed or otherwise prepared for spinning) or a combination of the two may be used provided their total weight does not exceed 10 per cent of the weight of the fabric.

Example:

Tufted textile fabric of heading No 5802 made from cotton yarn of heading No 5205 and cotton fabric of heading No 5210 is only a mixed product if the cotton fabric is itself a mixed fabric being made from yarns classified in two separate headings or if the cotton yarns used are themselves mixtures.

Example:

If the tufted textile fabric concerned had been made from cotton yarn of heading No 5205 and synthetic fabric of heading No 5407, then, obviously, the yarns used are two separate basic textile materials and the tufted textile fabric is accordingly a mixed product.

3. In the case of products incorporating "yarn made of polyurethane segmented with flexible segments of polyether whether or not gimped" this tolerance is 20 per cent in respect of this yarn.

4. In the case of products incorporating "strip consisting of a core of aluminium foil or of a core of plastic film whether or not coated with aluminium powder, of a width not exceeding 5 mm, sandwiched by means of an adhesive between two layers of plastic film", this tolerance is 30 per cent in respect of this strip.

Note 6:

1. In the case of those textile products, which are marked in the list by a footnote referring to this Introductory Note, textile trimmings and accessories which do not satisfy the rule set out in the list in column 3 for the made up products concerned may be used provided that their weight does not exceed 10 % of the total weight of all the textile materials incorporated.

Textile trimmings and accessories are those classified in Chapters 50 to 63. Linings and interlinings are not be regarded as trimmings or accessories.

2. Any non-textile trimmings and accessories or other materials used which contain textiles do not have to satisfy the conditions set out in column 3 even though they fall outside the scope of Note 3.5.

3. In accordance with Note 3.5, any non-originating non-textile trimmings and accessories or other product, which do not contain any textiles, may, anyway, be used freely where they cannot be made from the materials listed in column 3.

- For example(1), if a rule in the list says that for a particular textile item, such as a blouse, yarn must be used, this does not prevent the use of metal items, such as buttons, because they cannot be made from textile materials.

4. Where a percentage rule applies, the value of trimmings and accessories must be taken into account when calculating the value of the non-originating materials incorporated.

Note 7:

1. For the purposes of heading Nos ex 2707, 2713 to 2715, ex 2901, ex 2902 and ex 3403, the "specific processes" are the following:

(a) vacuum distillation;

(b) redistillation by a very thorough fractionation process(2);

(c) cracking;

(d) reforming;

(e) extraction by means of selective solvents;

(f) the process comprising all the following operations: processing with concentrated sulphuric acid, oleum or sulphuric anhydride; neutralization with alkaline agents; decolorization and purification with naturally active earth, activated earth, activated charcoal or bauxite;

(g) polymerization;

(h) alkylation;

(i) isomerization.

2. For the purposes of heading Nos 2710, 2711 and 2712, the "specific processes" are the following:

(a) vacuum distillation;

(b) redistillation by a very thorough fractionation process(3)

(c) cracking;

(d) reforming;

(e) extraction by means of selective solvents;

(f) the process comprising all the following operations: processing with concentrated sulphuric acid, oleum or sulphuric anhydride; neutralization with alkaline agents; decolorization and purification with naturally active earth, activated earth, activated charcoal or bauxite;

(g) polymerization;

(h) alkylation;

(i) isomerization;

(j) in respect of heavy oils falling within heading No ex 2710 only, desulphurization with hydrogen resulting in a reduction of at least 85 per cent of the sulphur content of the products processed (ASTM D 1266-59 T method);

(k) in respect of products falling within heading No 2710 only, deparaffining by a process other than filtering;

(l) in respect of heavy oils falling within heading No ex 2710 only, treatment with hydrogen at a pressure of more than 20 bar and a temperature of more than 250 °C with the use of a catalyst, other than to effect desulphurization, when the hydrogen constitutes an active element in a chemical reaction. The further treatment with hydrogen of lubricating oils of heading No ex 2710 (e.g. hydrofinishing or decolorization) in order, more especially, to improve colour or stability shall not, however, be deemed to be a specific process;

(m) in respect of fuel oils falling within heading No ex 2710 only, atmospheric distillation, on condition that less than 30 per cent of these products distils, by volume, including losses, at 300 °C by the ASTM D 86 method;

(n) in respect of heavy oils other than gas oils and fuel oils falling within heading No ex 2710 only, treatment by means of a high-frequency electrical brush-discharge.

3. For the purposes of heading Nos ex 2707, 2713 to 2715, ex 2901, ex 2902 and ex 3403, simple operations such as cleaning, decanting, desalting, water separation, filtering, colouring, marking, obtaining a sulphur content as a result of mixing products with different sulphur contents, any combination of these operations or like operations do not confer origin.

(1) This example is given for the purpose of explanation only. It is not legally binding.

(2) See additional Explanatory Note 4(b) to Chapter 27 of the Combined Nomenclature.

(3) This example is given for the purpose of explanation only. It is not legally binding.

Annex II to Protocol 1

List of working or processing required to be carried out on non-originating materials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating status

The products mentioned in the list may not all be covered by this Agreement. It is therefore necessary to consult the other parts of this Agreement.

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Annex III to Protocol 1

OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES

Within the meaning of this Protocol "overseas countries and territories" shall mean the countries and territories referred to in Part Four of the Treaty establishing the European Community listed below:

(This list does not prejudge the status of these countries and territories, or future changes in their status.)

1. Country having special relations with the Kingdom of Denmark:

- Greenland.

2. Overseas territories of the French Republic:

- New Caledonia,

- French Polynesia,

- French Southern and Antarctic Territories,

- Wallis and Futuna Islands.

3. Territorial collectivities of the French Republic:

- Mayotte,

- Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

4. Overseas countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands:

- Aruba,

- Netherlands Antilles:

- Bonaire,

- Curaçao,

- Saba,

- Sint Eustatius,

- Sint Maarten.

5. British overseas countries and territories:

- Anguilla,

- Cayman Islands,

- Falkland Islands,

- South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands,

- Montserrat,

- Pitcairn,

- Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha

- British Antarctic Territory,

- British Indian Ocean Territory,

- Turks and Caicos Islands,

- British Virgin Islands.

Annex IV to Protocol 1

FORM FOR MOVEMENT CERTIFICATE

1. Movement certificates EUR.1 shall be made out on the form of which a specimen appears in this Annex. This form shall be printed in one or more of the languages in which the Agreement is drawn up. Certificates shall be made out in one of these languages and in accordance with the provisions of the domestic law of the exporting State if they are handwritten, they shall be completed in ink and in capital letters.

2. Each certificate shall measure 210 x 297 mm, a tolerance of up to plus 8 mm or minus 5 mm in the length may be allowed. The paper used must be white, sized for writing, not containing mechanical pulp and weighing not less than 25 g/m2. It shall have a printed green guilloche pattern background making any falsification by mechanical or chemical means apparent to the eye.

3. The exporting States may reserve the right to print the certificates themselves or may have them printed by approved printers. In the latter case each certificate must include a reference to such approval. Each certificate must bear the name and address of the printer or a mark by which the printer can be identified. It shall also bear a serial number, either printed or not, by which it can be identified.

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Annex V to Protocol 1

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Annex via to Protocol 1

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Annex VIB to Protocol 1

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Annex VII to Protocol 1

Information Certificate

1. The form of information certificate given in this Annex shall be used and be printed in one or more of the official languages in which the Agreement is drawn up and in accordance with the provisions of the domestic law of the exporting State. Information certificates shall be completed in one of those languages; if they are handwritten, they shall be completed in ink in capital letters. They shall bear a serial number, whether or not printed, by which they can be identified.

2. The information certificate shall measure 210 x 297 mm, a tolerance of up to plus 8 mm or minus 5 mm in the length may be allowed. The paper must be white, sized for writing, not containing mechanical pulp and weighing not less than 25g/m2.

3. The national administrators may reserve the right to print the forms themselves or may have them printed by printers approved by them. In the latter case, each form must include a reference to such approval. The forms shall bear the name and address of the printer or a mark by which the printer can be identified.

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Annex VIII to Protocol 1

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Annex IX to Protocol 1

LIST OF WORKING OR PROCESSING CONFERRING THE CHARACTER OF ACP ORIGIN ON A PRODUCT OBTAINED WHEN WORKING OR PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT ON TEXTILE MATERIALS ORIGINATING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6(11) OF THIS PROTOCOL

Textiles and textile articles falling within Section XI

>TABLE>

Remarks concerning finishing operations - Special cases

It is possible that in particular manufacturing operations, the accomplishment of finishing operations, especially in the case of a combination of operations, is of such importance that these operations must be considered as going beyond simple finishing. In these particular cases, the non-accomplishing of finishing operations will deprive the making-up of its complete nature.

Annex X to Protocol 1

TEXTILE PRODUCTS EXCLUDED FROM THE CUMULATION PROCEDURE WITH CERTAIN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6 (11) OF THIS PROTOCOL

>TABLE>

Annex XI to Protocol 1

PRODUCTS FOR WHICH THE CUMULATION PROVISIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6(3) APPLY AFTER 3 YEARS FROM THE PROVISIONAL APPLICATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE, DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Industrial Products

CN code 96

Salt (including table salt and denatured salt)

2501 00 51

2501 00 91

2501 00 99

Alkali or alkaline-earth metals; rare-earth metals

2805 11 00

2805 19 00

2805 21 00

2805 22 00

2805 30 10

2805 30 90

2805 40 10

Ammonia, anhydrous or in aqueous solution

2814 10 00

2814 20 00

Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)

2815 11 00

2815 12 00

Zinc oxide; zinc peroxide

2817 00 00

Artificial corundum

2818 10 00

2818 20 00

2818 30 00

Chromium oxides and hydroxides

2819 10 00

2819 90 00

Manganese oxides

2820 10 00

2820 90 00

Titanium oxides

2823 00 00

Hydrazine and hydroxylamine

2825 80 00

Chlorides, chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides

2827 10 00

Sulphides; polysulphides

2830 10 00

Phosphinates (hypophosphites), phosphonates

2835 10 00

2835 22 00

2835 23 00

2835 24 00

2835 25 10

2835 25 90

2835 26 10

2835 26 90

2835 29 10

2835 29 90

2835 31 00

2835 39 10

2835 39 30

2835 39 70

Carbonates; peroxocarbonates (percarbonates);

2836 20 00

2836 40 00

2836 60 00

Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids

2841 61 00

Radioactive chemical elements

2844 30 11

2844 30 19

2844 30 51

Isotopes other than those of heading No 2844

2845 10 00

2845 90 10

Carbides, whether or not chemically defined

2849 20 00

2849 90 30

Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides

2850 00 70

Cyclic hydrocarbons

2902 50 00

Halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons

2903 11 00

2903 12 00

2903 13 00

2903 14 00

2903 15 00

2903 16 00

2903 19 10

2903 19 90

2903 21 00

2903 23 00

2903 29 00

2903 30 10

2903 30 31

2903 30 33

2903 30 38

2903 30 90

2903 41 00

2903 42 00

2903 43 00

2903 44 10

2903 44 90

2903 45 10

2903 45 15

2903 45 20

2903 45 25

2903 45 30

2903 45 35

2903 45 40

2903 45 45

2903 45 50

2903 45 55

2903 45 90

2903 46 10

2903 46 20

2903 46 90

2903 47 00

2903 49 10

2903 49 20

2903 49 90

2903 51 90

2903 59 10

2903 59 30

2903 59 90

2903 61 00

2903 62 00

2903 69 10

2903 69 90

Acyclic alcohols and their halogenated, sulphonated derivatives

2905 11 00

2905 12 00

2905 13 00

2905 14 10

2905 14 90

2905 15 00

2905 16 10

2905 16 90

2905 17 00

2905 19 10

2905 19 90

2905 22 10

2905 22 90

2905 29 10

2905 29 90

2905 31 00

2905 32 00

2905 39 10

2905 39 90

2905 41 00

2905 42 00

2905 49 10

2905 49 51

2905 49 59

2905 49 90

2905 50 10

2905 50 30

2905 50 99

Phenols; phenol-alcohols

2907 11 00

2907 15 00

2907 22 10

Ethers, ether-alcohols, ether-phenols

2909 11 00

2909 19 00

2909 20 00

2909 30 31

2909 30 39

2909 30 90

2909 41 00

2909 42 00

2909 43 00

2909 44 00

2909 49 10

2909 49 90

2909 50 10

2909 50 90

2909 60 00

Epoxides, epoxyalcohols, epoxyphenols and epoxyethols

2910 20 00

Aldehydes, whether or not with other oxygen functions

2912 41 00

2912 60 00

Ketones and quinones, whether or not with other oxygen fonctions

2914 11 00

2914 21 00

Saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids

2915 11 00

2915 12 00

2915 13 00

2915 21 00

2915 22 00

2915 23 00

2915 24 00

2915 29 00

2915 31 00

2915 32 00

2915 33 00

2915 34 00

2915 35 00

2915 39 10

2915 39 30

2915 39 50

2915 39 90

2915 40 00

2915 50 00

2915 60 10

2915 60 90

2915 70 15

2915 70 20

2915 70 25

2915 70 30

2915 70 80

2915 90 10

2915 90 20

2915 90 80

Unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids

2916 12 10

2916 12 20

2916 12 90

2916 14 10

2916 14 90

Polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides

2917 11 00

2917 14 00

2917 35 00

2917 36 00

2917 37 00

Carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function

2918 14 00

2918 15 00

2918 22 00

2918 90 00

Amine-function compounds

2921 11 10

2921 11 90

2921 12 00

2921 19 10

2921 19 30

2921 19 90

2921 21 00

2921 22 00

2921 29 00

2921 30 10

2921 30 90

2921 41 00

2921 42 10

2921 42 90

2921 43 10

2921 43 90

2921 44 00

2921 45 00

2921 49 10

2921 49 90

2921 51 10

2921 51 90

2921 59 00

Oxygen-function amino-compounds

2922 11 00

2922 12 00

2922 13 00

2922 19 00

2922 21 00

2922 22 00

2922 29 00

2922 30 00

2922 42 10

2922 43 00

2922 49 80

2922 50 00

Carboxyamide-function compounds

2924 21 10

2924 21 90

2924 29 30

Nitrile-function compounds

2926 10 00

2926 90 90

Organo-sulphur compounds

2930 20 00

2930 90 12

2930 90 14

2930 90 16

Other organo-inorganic compounds

2931 00 40

Heterocyclic compounds with oxygen hetero-atom(s)

2932 12 00

2932 13 00

2932 21 00

Heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom(s)

2933 61 00

Sulphonamides

2935 00 00

Mineral or chemical fertilizers, nitrogenous

3102 10 10

3102 10 90

3102 21 00

3102 29 00

3102 30 10

3102 30 90

3102 40 10

3102 40 90

3102 50 90

3102 60 00

3102 70 90

3102 80 00

3102 90 00

Mineral or chemical fertilizers, phosphatic

3103 10 10

3103 10 90

Mineral or chemical fertilizers

3105 10 00

3105 20 10

3105 20 90

3105 30 10

3105 30 90

3105 40 10

3105 40 90

3105 51 00

3105 59 00

3105 60 10

3105 60 90

3105 90 91

3105 90 99

Tanning extracts of vegetable origin

3201 20 00

3201 90 20

Other colouring matter

3206 11 00

3206 19 00

3206 20 00

3206 30 00

3206 41 00

3206 42 00

3206 43 00

3206 49 90

3206 50 00

Activated carbon; activated natural mineral products

3802 10 00

3802 90 00

Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides

3808 10 20

3808 10 30

3808 30 11

3808 30 13

3808 30 15

3808 30 17

3808 30 21

3808 30 23

3808 30 27

3808 30 30

3808 30 90

Prepared rubber accelerators; compound plasticiser

3812 30 20

Organic composite solvents and thinners

3814 00 90

Mixed alkylbenzenes and mixed alkylnaphthalenes,

3817 10 10

3817 10 50

3817 10 80

3817 20 00

Prepared binders for foundry moulds or cores

3824 90 90

Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms

3901 10 10

3901 10 90

3901 20 00

3901 30 00

3901 90 00

Polymers of propylene or of other olefins

3902 10 00

3902 20 00

3902 30 00

3902 90 00

Polymers of styrene, in primary forms

3903 11 00

3903 19 00

3903 20 00

3903 30 00

3903 90 00

Polymers of vinyl chloride

3904 10 00

3904 21 00

3904 22 00

3904 30 00

3904 40 00

3904 50 00

3904 61 90

3904 69 00

3904 90 00

Polymers of vinyl acetate

3905 12 00

Polyacetals, other polyethers and epoxide resins

3907 20 19

3907 20 90

3907 60 90

3907 91 10

3907 91 90

3907 99 10

3907 99 90

Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip

3920 10 22

3920 10 28

3920 10 40

3920 10 80

3920 20 21

3920 20 29

3920 20 71

3920 20 79

3920 20 90

3920 30 00

3920 41 11

3920 41 19

3920 41 91

3920 41 99

3920 42 11

3920 42 19

3920 42 91

3920 42 99

3920 51 00

3920 59 00

3920 61 00

3920 62 10

3920 62 90

3920 63 00

3920 69 00

3920 71 11

3920 71 19

3920 71 90

3920 72 00

3920 73 10

3920 73 50

3920 73 90

3920 79 00

3920 91 00

3920 92 00

3920 93 00

3920 94 00

3920 99 11

3920 99 19

3920 99 50

3920 99 90

Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip

3921 90 19

Articles for the conveyance or packing of goods

3923 21 00

Retreaded or used pneumatic tyres of rubber

4012 10 30

4012 10 50

4012 10 80

4012 20 90

4012 90 10

4012 90 90

Inner tubes, of rubber

4013 10 10

4013 10 90

4013 20 00

4013 90 10

4013 90 90

Leather of bovine or equine animals, without hair

4104 10 91

4104 10 95

4104 10 99

4104 21 00

4104 22 90

4104 29 00

4104 31 11

4104 31 19

4104 31 30

4104 31 90

4104 39 10

4104 39 90

Sheep or lamb skin leather, without wool on

4105 20 00

Leather of other animals, without hair on

4107 10 10

4107 29 10

4107 90 10

4107 90 90

Chamois (including combination chamois) leather

4108 00 10

4108 00 90

Patent leather and patent laminated leather

4109 00 00

Composition leather with a basis of leather or leather

4111 00 00

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories

4203 10 00

4203 21 00

4203 29 10

4203 29 91

4203 29 99

4203 30 00

4203 40 00

Particle board and similar board of wood

4410 11 00

4410 19 10

4410 19 30

4410 19 50

4410 19 90

4410 90 00

Fibreboard of wood or other ligneous materials

4411 11 00

4411 19 00

4411 21 00

4411 29 00

4411 31 00

4411 39 00

4411 91 00

4411 99 00

Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood

4412 13 11

4412 13 19

4412 13 90

4412 14 00

4412 19 00

4412 22 10

4412 22 91

4412 22 99

4412 23 00

4412 29 20

4412 29 80

4412 92 10

4412 92 91

4412 92 99

4412 93 00

4412 99 20

4412 99 80

Builders' joinery and carpentry of wood

4418 10 10

4418 10 50

4418 10 90

4418 20 10

4418 20 50

4418 20 80

4418 30 10

4418 90 10

Wood marquetry and inlaid wood; caskets and cases

4420 90 11

4420 90 19

Articles of natural cork

4503 10 10

4503 10 90

4503 90 00

Plaits and similar products of plaiting materials

4601 99 10

Basketwork, wickerwork and other articles

4602 90 10

Registers, account books, note books, order books

4820 10 30

Children's picture, drawing or colouring books

4903 00 00

Maps and hydrographic or similar charts of all kinds

4905 10 00

Transfers (decalcomanias)

4908 10 00

4908 90 00

Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards

4909 00 10

4909 00 90

Calendars of any kind, printed, including calendars

4910 00 00

Other printed matter, including printed pictures

4911 10 10

4911 10 90

4911 91 80

4911 99 00

Silk yarn (other than yarn spun from silk waste)

5004 00 10

5004 00 90

Yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale

5005 00 10

5005 00 90

Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste, put up for retail sale

5006 00 10

5006 00 90

Woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste

5007 10 00

5007 20 11

5007 20 19

5007 20 21

5007 20 31

5007 20 39

5007 20 41

5007 20 51

5007 20 59

5007 20 61

5007 20 69

5007 20 71

5007 90 10

5007 90 30

5007 90 50

5007 90 90

Yarn of carded wool, not put up for retail sale

5106 10 10

5106 10 90

5106 20 11

5106 20 19

5106 20 91

5106 20 99

Yarn of combed wool, not put up for retail sale

5107 10 10

5107 10 90

5107 20 10

5107 20 30

5107 20 51

5107 20 59

5107 20 91

5107 20 99

Yarn of fine animal hair (carded or combed), not put up for retail sale

5108 10 10

5108 10 90

5108 20 10

5108 20 90

Yarn of wool or of fine animal hair, put up for retail sale

5109 10 10

5109 10 90

5109 90 10

5109 90 90

Yarn of coarse animal hair or of horsehair

5110 00 00

Woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair

5111 11 11

5111 11 19

5111 11 91

5111 11 99

5111 19 11

5111 19 19

5111 19 31

5111 19 39

5111 19 91

5111 19 99

5111 20 00

5111 30 10

5111 30 30

5111 30 90

5111 90 10

5111 90 91

5111 90 93

5111 90 99

Woven fabrics of combed wool or of combed fine animal hair

5112 11 10

5112 11 90

5112 19 11

5112 19 19

5112 19 91

5112 19 99

5112 20 00

5112 30 10

5112 30 30

5112 30 90

5112 90 10

5112 90 91

5112 90 93

5112 90 99

Woven fabrics of coarse animal hair or of horsehair

5113 00 00

Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale

5204 11 00

5204 19 00

5204 20 00

Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread)

5205 11 00

5205 12 00

5205 13 00

5205 14 00

5205 15 10

5205 15 90

5205 21 00

5205 22 00

5205 23 00

5205 24 00

5205 26 00

5205 27 00

5205 28 00

5205 31 00

5205 32 00

5205 33 00

5205 34 00

5205 35 10

5205 35 90

5205 41 00

5205 42 00

5205 43 00

5205 44 00

5205 46 00

5205 47 00

5205 48 00

Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread)

5206 11 00

5206 12 00

5206 13 00

5206 14 00

5206 15 10

5206 15 90

5206 21 00

5206 22 00

5206 23 00

5206 24 00

5206 25 10

5206 25 90

5206 31 00

5206 32 00

5206 33 00

5206 34 00

5206 35 10

5206 35 90

5206 41 00

5206 42 00

5206 43 00

5206 44 00

5206 45 10

5206 45 90

Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread) put up for retail sale

5207 10 00

5207 90 00

Flax yarn

5306 10 11

5306 10 19

5306 10 31

5306 10 39

5306 10 50

5306 10 90

5306 20 11

5306 20 19

5306 20 90

Yarn of other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn

5308 20 10

5308 20 90

5308 30 00

5308 90 11

5308 90 13

5308 90 19

5308 90 90

Woven fabrics of flax

5309 11 11

5309 11 19

5309 11 90

5309 19 10

5309 19 90

5309 21 10

5309 21 90

5309 29 10

5309 29 90

Woven fabrics of jute or of other textile bast fibres

5310 10 10

5310 10 90

5310 90 00

Woven fabrics of other vegetable textile fibres

5311 00 10

5311 00 90

Sewing thread of man-made filaments

5401 10 11

5401 10 19

5401 10 90

5401 20 10

5401 20 90

Synthetic filament yarn (other than sewing thread)

5402 10 10

5402 10 90

5402 20 00

5402 31 10

5402 31 30

5402 31 90

5402 32 00

5402 33 10

5402 33 90

5402 39 10

5402 39 90

5402 41 10

5402 41 30

5402 41 90

5402 42 00

5402 43 10

5402 43 90

5402 49 10

5402 49 91

5402 49 99

5402 51 10

5402 51 30

5402 51 90

5402 52 10

5402 52 90

5402 59 10

5402 59 90

5402 61 10

5402 61 30

5402 61 90

5402 62 10

5402 62 90

5402 69 10

5402 69 90

Artificial filament yarn (other than sewing thread)

5403 10 00

5403 20 10

5403 20 90

5403 31 00

5403 32 00

5403 33 10

5403 33 90

5403 39 00

5403 41 00

5403 42 00

5403 49 00

Synthetic monofilament of 67 decitex or more

5404 10 10

5404 10 90

5404 90 11

5404 90 19

5404 90 90

Artificial monofilament of 67 decitex or more

5405 00 00

Man-made filament yarn (other than sewing thread)

5406 10 00

5406 20 00

Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn

5407 10 00

5407 20 11

5407 20 19

5407 20 90

5407 30 00

5407 41 00

5407 42 00

5407 43 00

5407 44 00

5407 51 00

5407 52 00

5407 53 00

5407 54 00

5407 61 10

5407 61 30

5407 61 50

5407 61 90

5407 69 10

5407 69 90

5407 71 00

5407 72 00

5407 73 00

5407 74 00

5407 81 00

5407 82 00

5407 83 00

5407 84 00

5407 91 00

5407 92 00

5407 93 00

5407 94 00

Woven fabrics of artificial filament yarn

5408 10 00

5408 21 00

5408 22 10

5408 22 90

5408 23 10

5408 23 90

5408 24 00

5408 31 00

5408 32 00

5408 33 00

5408 34 00

Synthetic filament tow

5501 10 00

5501 20 00

5501 30 00

5501 90 00

Artificial filament tow

5502 00 10

5502 00 90

Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise

5503 10 11

5503 10 19

5503 10 90

5503 20 00

5503 30 00

5503 40 00

5503 90 10

5503 90 90

Artificial staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise

5504 10 00

5504 90 00

Waste (including noils, yarn waste)

5505 10 10

5505 10 30

5505 10 50

5505 10 70

5505 10 90

5505 20 00

Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise

5506 10 00

5506 20 00

5506 30 00

5506 90 10

5506 90 91

5506 90 99

Artificial staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise

5507 00 00

Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres

5508 10 11

5508 10 19

5508 10 90

5508 20 10

5508 20 90

Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres

5509 11 00

5509 12 00

5509 21 10

5509 21 90

5509 22 10

5509 22 90

5509 31 10

5509 31 90

5509 32 10

5509 32 90

5509 41 10

5509 41 90

5509 42 10

5509 42 90

5509 51 00

5509 52 10

5509 52 90

5509 53 00

5509 59 00

5509 61 10

5509 61 90

5509 62 00

5509 69 00

5509 91 10

5509 91 90

5509 92 00

5509 99 00

Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibres

5510 11 00

5510 12 00

5510 20 00

5510 30 00

5510 90 00

Yarn (other than sewing thread) of man-made staple fibres

5511 10 00

5511 20 00

5511 30 00

Wadding of textile materials and articles thereof

5601 10 10

5601 10 90

5601 21 10

5601 21 90

5601 22 10

5601 22 91

5601 22 99

5601 29 00

5601 30 00

Felt, whether or not impregnated

5602 10 11

5602 10 19

5602 10 31

5602 10 35

5602 10 39

5602 10 90

5602 21 00

5602 29 10

5602 29 90

5602 90 00

Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated

5603 11 10

5603 11 90

5603 12 10

5603 12 90

5603 13 10

5603 13 90

5603 14 10

5603 14 90

5603 91 10

5603 91 90

5603 92 10

5603 92 90

5603 93 10

5603 93 90

5603 94 10

5603 94 90

Rubber thread and cord, textile covered

5604 10 00

5604 20 00

5604 90 00

Metallised yarn, whether or not gimped

5605 00 00

Gimped yarn, and strip

5606 00 10

5606 00 91

5606 00 99

Articles of yarn, strip

5609 00 00

Carpets and other textile floor coverings

5701 10 10

5701 10 91

5701 10 93

5701 10 99

5701 90 10

5701 90 90

Woven pile fabrics and chenille fabrics

5801 10 00

5801 21 00

5801 22 00

5801 23 00

5801 24 00

5801 25 00

5801 26 00

5801 31 00

5801 32 00

5801 33 00

5801 34 00

5801 35 00

5801 36 00

5801 90 10

5801 90 90

Terry towelling and similar woven terry fabrics

5802 11 00

5802 19 00

5802 20 00

5802 30 00

Gauze, other than narrow fabrics

5803 10 00

5803 90 10

5803 90 30

5803 90 50

5803 90 90

Tulles and other net fabrics, not including woven

5804 10 11

5804 10 19

5804 10 90

5804 21 10

5804 21 90

5804 29 10

5804 29 90

5804 30 00

Hand-woven tapestries of the type Gobelins

5805 00 00

Narrow woven fabrics

5806 10 00

5806 20 00

5806 31 10

5806 31 90

5806 32 10

5806 32 90

5806 39 00

5806 40 00

Labels, badges and similar articles of textile matter

5807 10 10

5807 10 90

5807 90 10

5807 90 90

Braids in the piece; ornamental trimmings

5808 10 00

5808 90 00

Woven fabrics of metal thread and woven fabrics

5809 00 00

Embroidery in the piece, in strips or in motifs

5810 10 10

5810 10 90

5810 91 10

5810 91 90

5810 92 10

5810 92 90

5810 99 10

5810 99 90

Quilted textile products in the piece

5811 00 00

Textile fabrics coated with gum

5901 10 00

5901 90 00

Tyre cord fabric of high tenacity yarn of nylon

5902 10 10

5902 10 90

5902 20 10

5902 20 90

5902 90 10

5902 90 90

Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered

5903 10 10

5903 10 90

5903 20 10

5903 20 90

5903 90 10

5903 90 91

5903 90 99

Linoleum, whether or not cut to shape

5904 10 00

5904 91 10

5904 91 90

5904 92 00

Textile wall coverings

5905 00 10

5905 00 31

5905 00 39

5905 00 50

5905 00 70

5905 00 90

Rubberized textile fabrics

5906 10 10

5906 10 90

5906 91 00

5906 99 10

5906 99 90

Textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered

5907 00 10

5907 00 90

Textile wicks, woven, plaited or knitted

5908 00 00

Textile hosepiping and similar textile tubing

5909 00 10

5909 00 90

Transmission or conveyor belts or belting

5910 00 00

Textile products and articles, for technical uses

5911 10 00

5911 20 00

5911 31 11

5911 31 19

5911 31 90

5911 32 10

5911 32 90

5911 40 00

5911 90 10

5911 90 90

Pile fabrics, including "long pile" fabrics

6001 10 00

6001 21 00

6001 22 00

6001 29 10

6001 29 90

6001 91 10

6001 91 30

6001 91 50

6001 91 90

6001 92 10

6001 92 30

6001 92 50

6001 92 90

6001 99 10

6001 99 90

Men's or boys' overcoats, car-coats, capes, cloaks

6101 10 10

6101 10 90

6101 20 10

6101 20 90

6101 30 10

6101 30 90

6101 90 10

6101 90 90

Women's or girls' overcoats, car-coats, capes, cloaks

6102 10 10

6102 10 90

6102 20 10

6102 20 90

6102 30 10

6102 30 90

6102 90 10

6102 90 90

Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers

6103 41 10

6103 41 90

6103 42 10

6103 42 90

6103 43 10

6103 43 90

6103 49 10

6103 49 91

6103 49 99

Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers

6104 51 00

6104 52 00

6104 53 00

6104 59 00

6104 61 10

6104 61 90

6104 62 10

6104 62 90

6104 63 10

6104 63 90

6104 69 10

6104 69 91

6104 69 99

Men's or boys' underpants, briefs, nightshirts, pyjamas

6107 11 00

6107 12 00

6107 19 00

6107 21 00

6107 22 00

6107 29 00

6107 91 10

6107 91 90

6107 92 00

6107 99 00

Women's or girls' slips, petticoats, briefs, panties

6108 11 10

6108 11 90

6108 19 10

6108 19 90

6108 21 00

6108 22 00

6108 29 00

6108 31 10

6108 31 90

6108 32 11

6108 32 19

6108 32 90

6108 39 00

6108 91 10

6108 91 90

6108 92 00

6108 99 10

6108 99 90

T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted

6109 10 00

6109 90 10

6109 90 30

Track suits, ski suits and swimwear, knitted or crocheted

6112 11 00

6112 12 00

6112 19 00

6112 20 00

6112 31 10

6112 31 90

6112 39 10

6112 39 90

6112 41 10

6112 41 90

6112 49 10

6112 49 90

Garments, made up of knitted or crocheted fabrics

6113 00 10

6113 00 90

Other garments, knitted or crocheted

6114 10 00

6114 20 00

6114 30 00

6114 90 00

Panty hose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery

6115 11 00

6115 12 00

6115 19 10

6115 19 90

6115 20 11

6115 20 19

6115 20 90

6115 91 00

6115 92 00

6115 93 10

6115 93 30

6115 93 91

6115 93 99

6115 99 00

Gloves, mittens and mitts, knitted or crocheted

6116 10 20

6116 10 80

6116 91 00

6116 92 00

6116 93 00

6116 99 00

Other made up clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

6117 10 00

6117 20 00

6117 80 10

6117 80 90

6117 90 00

Men's or boys' overcoats, car-coats, capes, cloaks

6201 11 00

6201 12 10

6201 12 90

6201 13 10

6201 13 90

6201 19 00

6201 91 00

6201 92 00

6201 93 00

6201 99 00

Women's or girls' overcoats, car-coats, capes, cloaks

6202 11 00

6202 12 10

6202 12 90

6202 13 10

6202 13 90

6202 19 00

6202 91 00

6202 92 00

6202 93 00

6202 99 00

Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers

6203 41 10

6203 41 30

6203 41 90

6203 42 11

6203 42 31

6203 42 33

6203 42 35

6203 42 51

6203 42 59

6203 42 90

6203 43 11

6203 43 19

6203 43 31

6203 43 39

6203 43 90

6203 49 11

6203 49 19

6203 49 31

6203 49 39

6203 49 50

6203 49 90

Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers

6204 51 00

6204 52 00

6204 53 00

6204 59 10

6204 59 90

6204 61 10

6204 61 80

6204 61 90

6204 62 11

6204 62 31

6204 62 33

6204 62 39

6204 62 51

6204 62 59

6204 62 90

6204 63 11

6204 63 18

6204 63 31

6204 63 39

6204 63 90

6204 69 11

6204 69 18

6204 69 31

6204 69 39

6204 69 50

6204 69 90

Men's or boys' shirts

6205 10 00

6205 20 00

6205 30 00

6205 90 10

6205 90 90

Men's or boys' singlets and other vests, underpants

6207 11 00

6207 19 00

6207 21 00

6207 22 00

6207 29 00

6207 91 10

6207 91 90

6207 92 00

6207 99 00

Women's or girls' singlets and other vests, slips

6208 11 00

6208 19 10

6208 19 90

6208 21 00

6208 22 00

6208 29 00

6208 91 11

6208 91 19

6208 91 90

6208 92 10

6208 92 90

6208 99 00

Brassières, girdles, corsets, braces, suspenders

6212 10 00

6212 20 00

6212 30 00

6212 90 00

Handkerchiefs

6213 10 00

6213 20 00

6213 90 00

Shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils

6214 10 00

6214 20 00

6214 30 00

6214 40 00

6214 90 10

6214 90 90

Ties, bow ties and cravats

6215 10 00

6215 20 00

6215 90 00

Gloves, mittens and mitts

6216 00 00

Other made up clothing accessories

6217 10 00

6217 90 00

Blankets and travelling rugs

6301 10 00

6301 20 10

6301 20 91

6301 20 99

6301 30 10

6301 30 90

6301 40 10

6301 40 90

6301 90 10

6301 90 90

Sacks and bags

6305 10 10

6305 10 90

6305 20 00

6305 32 11

6305 32 81

6305 32 89

6305 32 90

6305 33 10

6305 33 91

6305 33 99

6305 39 00

6305 90 00

Tarpaulins, awnings and sunblinds; tents; sails

6306 11 00

6306 12 00

6306 19 00

6306 21 00

6306 22 00

6306 29 00

6306 31 00

6306 39 00

6306 41 00

6306 49 00

6306 91 00

6306 99 00

Other made up articles, including dress patterns

6307 10 10

6307 10 30

6307 10 90

6307 20 00

6307 90 10

6307 90 91

6307 90 99

Sets consisting of woven fabric and yarn

6308 00 00

Worn clothing and other worn articles

6309 00 00

Waterproof footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber

6401 10 10

6401 10 90

6401 91 10

6401 91 90

6401 92 10

6401 92 90

6401 99 10

6401 99 90

Other footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber

6402 12 10

6402 12 90

6402 19 00

6402 20 00

6402 30 00

6402 91 00

6402 99 10

6402 99 31

6402 99 39

6402 99 50

6402 99 91

6402 99 93

6402 99 96

6402 99 98

Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather

6403 12 00

6403 19 00

6403 20 00

6403 30 00

6403 40 00

6403 51 11

6403 51 15

6403 51 19

6403 51 91

6403 51 95

6403 51 99

6403 59 11

6403 59 31

6403 59 35

6403 59 39

6403 59 50

6403 59 91

6403 59 95

6403 59 99

6403 91 11

6403 91 13

6403 91 16

6403 91 18

6403 91 91

6403 91 93

6403 91 96

6403 91 98

6403 99 11

6403 99 31

6403 99 33

6403 99 36

6403 99 38

6403 99 50

6403 99 91

6403 99 93

6403 99 96

6403 99 98

Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather

6404 11 00

6404 19 10

6404 19 90

6404 20 10

6404 20 90

Other footwear

6405 10 10

6405 10 90

6405 20 10

6405 20 91

6405 20 99

6405 90 10

6405 90 90

Parts of footwear (including uppers)

6406 10 11

6406 10 19

6406 10 90

6406 20 10

6406 20 90

6406 91 00

6406 99 10

6406 99 30

6406 99 50

6406 99 60

6406 99 80

Unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles

6907 10 00

6907 90 10

6907 90 91

6907 90 93

6907 90 99

Glazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles

6908 10 10

6908 10 90

6908 90 11

6908 90 21

6908 90 29

6908 90 31

6908 90 51

6908 90 91

6908 90 93

6908 90 99

Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles

6911 10 00

6911 90 00

Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles

6912 00 10

6912 00 30

6912 00 50

6912 00 90

Statuettes and other ornamental ceramic articles

6913 10 00

6913 90 10

6913 90 91

6913 90 93

6913 90 99

Glassware of a kind used for table, kitchen

7013 10 00

7013 21 11

7013 21 19

7013 21 91

7013 21 99

7013 29 10

7013 29 51

7013 29 59

7013 29 91

7013 29 99

7013 31 10

7013 31 90

7013 32 00

7013 39 10

7013 39 91

7013 39 99

7013 91 10

7013 91 90

7013 99 10

7013 99 90

Glass fibres (including glass wool)

7019 11 00

7019 12 00

7019 19 10

7019 19 90

7019 31 00

7019 32 00

7019 39 10

7019 39 90

7019 40 00

7019 51 10

7019 51 90

7019 52 00

7019 59 10

7019 59 90

7019 90 10

7019 90 30

7019 90 91

7019 90 99

Other articles of precious metal

7115 90 10

7115 90 90

Ferro-alloys

7202 50 00

7202 70 00

7202 91 00

7202 92 00

7202 99 30

7202 99 80

Copper bars, rods and profiles

7407 10 00

7407 21 10

7407 21 90

7407 22 10

7407 22 90

7407 29 00

Copper wire

7408 11 00

7408 19 10

7408 19 90

7408 21 00

7408 22 00

7408 29 00

Copper plates, sheets and strip

7409 11 00

7409 19 00

7409 21 00

7409 29 00

7409 31 00

7409 39 00

7409 40 10

7409 40 90

7409 90 10

7409 90 90

Copper foil (whether or not printed or backed with)

7410 11 00

7410 12 00

7410 21 00

7410 22 00

Copper tubes and pipes

7411 10 11

7411 10 19

7411 10 90

7411 21 10

7411 21 90

7411 22 00

7411 29 10

7411 29 90

Copper tube or pipe fittings

7412 10 00

7412 20 00

Stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like

7413 00 91

7413 00 99

Cloth (including endless bands), grill and netting

7414 20 00

7414 90 00

Nails, tacks, drawing pins, staples

7415 10 00

7415 21 00

7415 29 00

7415 31 00

7415 32 00

7415 39 00

Copper springs

7416 00 00

Cooking or heating apparatus

7417 00 00

Table, kitchen or other household articles

7418 11 00

7418 19 00

7418 20 00

Other articles of copper

7419 10 00

7419 91 00

7419 99 00

Aluminium bars, rods and profiles

7604 10 10

7604 10 90

7604 21 00

7604 29 10

7604 29 90

Aluminium wire

7605 11 00

7605 19 00

7605 21 00

7605 29 00

Aluminium plates, sheets and strip

7606 11 10

7606 11 91

7606 11 93

7606 11 99

7606 12 10

7606 12 50

7606 12 91

7606 12 93

7606 12 99

7606 91 00

7606 92 00

Aluminium foil

7607 11 10

7607 11 90

7607 19 10

7607 19 91

7607 19 99

7607 20 10

7607 20 91

7607 20 99

Aluminium tubes and pipes

7608 10 90

7608 20 30

7608 20 91

7608 20 99

Aluminium tube or pipe fittings

7609 00 00

Aluminium structures

7610 10 00

7610 90 10

7610 90 90

Aluminium reservoirs, tanks, vats

7611 00 00

Aluminium casks, drums, cans, boxes

7612 10 00

7612 90 10

7612 90 20

7612 90 91

7612 90 98

Aluminium containers for compressed or liquefied

7613 00 00

Stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like

7614 10 00

7614 90 00

Table, kitchen or other household articles

7615 11 00

7615 19 10

7615 19 90

7615 20 00

Other articles of aluminium

7616 10 00

7616 91 00

7616 99 10

7616 99 90

Unwrought lead

7801 10 00

7801 91 00

7801 99 91

7801 99 99

Tungsten (wolfram) and articles thereof, including waste

8101 10 00

8101 91 10

Molybdenum and articles thereof, including waste

8102 10 00

8102 91 10

8102 93 00

Magnesium and articles thereof, including waste

8104 11 00

8104 19 00

Cadmium and articles thereof, including waste

8107 10 10

Titanium and articles thereof, including waste

8108 10 10

8108 10 90

8108 90 30

8108 90 50

8108 90 70

8108 90 90

Zirconium and articles thereof, including waste

8109 10 10

8109 90 00

Antimony and articles thereof, including waste

8110 00 11

8110 00 19

Beryllium, chromium, germanium, vanadium, gallium

8112 20 31

8112 30 20

8112 30 90

8112 91 10

8112 91 31

8112 99 30

Cermets and articles thereof, including waste

8113 00 20

8113 00 40

Nuclear reactors; fuel elements (cartridges)

8401 10 00

8401 20 00

8401 30 00

8401 40 10

8401 40 90

Hydraulic turbines, water wheels, and regulators

8410 11 00

8410 12 00

8410 13 00

8410 90 10

8410 90 90

Turbo-jets, turbo-propellers and other gas turbines

8411 11 90

8411 12 90

8411 21 90

8411 22 90

8411 81 90

8411 82 91

8411 82 93

8411 82 99

8411 91 90

8411 99 90

Air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors

8414 10 30

8414 10 50

8414 10 90

8414 20 91

8414 20 99

8414 30 30

8414 30 91

8414 30 99

8414 40 10

8414 40 90

8414 51 90

8414 59 30

8414 59 50

8414 59 90

8414 60 00

8414 80 21

8414 80 29

8414 80 31

8414 80 39

8414 80 41

8414 80 49

8414 80 60

8414 80 71

8414 80 79

8414 80 90

8414 90 90

Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks

8427 10 10

8427 10 90

8427 20 11

8427 20 19

8427 20 90

8427 90 00

Sewing machines, other than book-sewing machines

8452 10 11

8452 10 19

8452 10 90

8452 21 00

8452 29 00

8452 30 10

8452 30 90

8452 40 00

8452 90 00

Electro-mechanical domestic appliances

8509 10 10

8509 10 90

8509 20 00

8509 30 00

8509 40 00

8509 80 00

8509 90 10

8509 90 90

Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters

8516 29 91

8516 31 10

8516 31 90

8516 40 10

8516 40 90

8516 50 00

8516 60 70

8516 71 00

8516 72 00

8516 79 80

Turntables (record-decks), record-players, cassette-players

8519 10 00

8519 21 00

8519 29 00

8519 31 00

8519 39 00

8519 40 00

8519 93 31

8519 93 39

8519 93 81

8519 93 89

8519 99 12

8519 99 18

8519 99 90

Magnetic tape recorders and other sound recording

8520 10 00

8520 32 19

8520 32 50

8520 32 91

8520 32 99

8520 33 19

8520 33 90

8520 39 10

8520 39 90

8520 90 90

Video recording or reproducing apparatus

8521 10 30

8521 10 80

8521 90 00

Parts and accessories

8522 10 00

8522 90 30

8522 90 91

8522 90 98

Prepared unrecorded media for sound recording

8523 30 00

Records, tapes and other recorded media

8524 10 00

8524 32 00

8524 39 00

8524 51 00

8524 52 00

8524 53 00

8524 60 00

8524 99 00

Reception apparatus for radio-telephony

8527 12 10

8527 12 90

8527 13 10

8527 13 91

8527 13 99

8527 21 20

8527 21 52

8527 21 59

8527 21 70

8527 21 92

8527 21 98

8527 29 00

8527 31 11

8527 31 19

8527 31 91

8527 31 93

8527 31 98

8527 32 90

8527 39 10

8527 39 91

8527 39 99

8527 90 91

8527 90 99

Reception apparatus for television

8528 12 14

8528 12 16

8528 12 18

8528 12 22

8528 12 28

8528 12 52

8528 12 54

8528 12 56

8528 12 58

8528 12 62

8528 12 66

8528 12 72

8528 12 76

8528 12 81

8528 12 89

8528 12 91

8528 12 98

8528 13 00

8528 21 14

8528 21 16

8528 21 18

8528 21 90

8528 22 00

8528 30 10

8528 30 90

Parts suitable for use solely or principally with

8529 10 20

8529 10 31

8529 10 39

8529 10 40

8529 10 50

8529 10 70

8529 10 90

8529 90 51

8529 90 59

8529 90 70

8529 90 81

8529 90 89

Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus

8531 10 20

8531 10 30

8531 10 80

8531 80 90

8531 90 90

Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode valves

8540 11 11

8540 11 13

8540 11 15

8540 11 19

8540 11 91

8540 11 99

8540 12 00

8540 20 10

8540 20 30

8540 20 90

8540 40 00

8540 50 00

8540 60 00

8540 71 00

8540 72 00

8540 79 00

8540 81 00

8540 89 11

8540 89 19

8540 89 90

8540 91 00

8540 99 00

Electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies

8542 14 25

Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire

8544 11 10

8544 11 90

8544 19 10

8544 19 90

8544 20 00

8544 30 90

8544 41 10

8544 41 90

8544 49 20

8544 49 80

8544 51 00

8544 59 10

8544 59 20

8544 59 80

8544 60 10

8544 60 90

8544 70 00

Motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons

8702 10 91

8702 10 99

8702 90 31

8702 90 39

8702 90 90

Motor vehicles for the transport of goods

8704 10 11

8704 10 19

8704 10 90

8704 21 10

8704 21 91

8704 21 99

8704 22 10